Which Mayo location do you recommend for prostate cancer?

@zmarkv, I expanded the title of your discussion to reflect your question. I wouldn't be surprised if you get people recommending the Mayo location where they received care. A couple of members have been treated at multiple campuses like @dandl48.

All Mayo Clinic campuses in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, have been recognized among the top Cancer hospitals in the nation for 2024-2025 by U.S. News & World Report.

In addition to getting top care and travel distance, there may be other factors to consider:
- The weather and when you will be on campus.
- Insurance coverage may differ between campuses. Contact Mayo Clinic Patient Account Services to fnd out more https://www.mayoclinic.org/billing-insurance/contact-us
- What treatment modality you may need. For example AZ and MN have proton beam facilities, FL does not (yet, coming in 2026)
- Lodging options

I read here (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/stage-4-radiation-challenge/) that you might be looking for radiation options and stage 4 evaluation. Is that correct?

If you are on Medicare and have an Advantage plan AZ is not where you want to go. Actually if you have an Advantage plan, you need to contact Mayo to check to see if they accept your plan. I have gone to both the AZ and Rochester campus and there is no comparison. Rochester is the place to go. Don't think that I don't like AZ, it's just that Rochester is amazing.

@zmarkv
I see Colleen (Director) has already given you great information.

Are you considering surgery or radiation? If you are considering radiation just be advised that Mayo Jacksonville does not have proton radiation treatments that Rochester and Phoenix offer. That may or may not be important to you. Do some research about the difference but the major thing is photon radiation goes through body during treatmetns and proton radiation does not. It stops at the programmed spot the R/O has set and does not continue through body.

Mayo at all locations does take Medicare but not all Medicare Advantage. Most Medicare Advantage are not accepted as most are similiar to HMO type insurance. But I have learned that all 3 do accept some Medicare Advantage plans.

Good luck, you can't go wrong at any of the 3 as all are outstanding medical facilities.

Colleen has indeed given good information. I was just thinking about weather and travel. Per recommendation, I'm waiting for my Testosterone levels to return after ADT, to see how PSA levels respond. (I'm having the levels checked every three months).
My hope is to see Dr. E. Kwon at that time and schedule thorough imaging, which seems to be his MO and Mayo's fame. Insurance is Medicare with Blue Cross/Shield Supplemental (F) (usually not an issue). I'm confident that if I can get in to see Dr. Kwon, he, and the other professionals that he engage, will come up with a robust and thorough treatment plan. (So I'm assuming Rochester is my best option.)

Thanks you for your response!
Mark

Thanks Dave, I'll shoot for Rochester. Any Dr. recommendations?

@zmarkv
Rochester is the largest and longest going Mayo. It is where it all started. I go to Mayo Jacksonville.

Regarding your insurance I have Medicare original and BCBS Federal Basic Plan. You posted the initial (F) is that for federal? If so that is under FEHP. If your plan is the full plan (mine is) or supplement and not an advantage plan (which takes the place of your Medicare) you will not have a problem at any Mayo. My Federal (FEHP) BCBS pays after Medicare pays as Medicare is primary. An advantage plan is private plan that takes over from Medicare and those plans may not be accepted at the Mayo Clinics.

I have not heard about Dr. Kwon. Is he a urologist or R/O? Good luck but you will be in good hands no matter which Mayo you choose.

Thanks for the input. F was probably confusing but it’s a supplement. He is a urologist.

I am sure all locations are great. I live in MN so obviously I went to Rochester for my treatment. I have been to Mayo many times with family members and it has never failed to impress. It runs like a Swiss watch!
I have Medicare with a BCBS supplement and my only bill after Tulsa Pro treatment was $6. I am in a clinical trial and my Doctor is Radiologist David Woodrum who is leading the study.

If you go to Mayo Rochester, ask to see Dr. Eugene Kwon if you are eligible. He oversees a very large clinic for men with recurrent prostate cancer, and he also has terrific providers from many other specialties to whom he can refer patients if needed. My husband has been Stage 4 with recurring metastases since he began seeing Dr. Kwon in 2011. Dr. Kwon and his team and other Mayo providers have kept him alive with a good quality of life ever since.

I've been treated at Mayo, AZ, since 2015, in both urology and medical oncology. I'm very pleased with the care I've received. Dr. Kwon in Rochester has a series of videos on prostate cancer, treatments, research, results, etc. If you're geeky like me, you'll find them excellent and well worth the time to watch.