Anyone been to Northwestern or Mayo in Rochester?

[Waubesa94]

On the advice of another member here (Nalakrats; thank-you) I'm posting this in hopes that someone else here has seen a good oncologist/ prostate specialist at either of these two institutions that they would recommend. We are in Madison, WI and I've previously posted, I am extremely disappointed in the care (or lack thereof) that my husband has received. No one seems to really give a damn and I'm tired of our questions not being answered. He has been in extreme pain off and on since Christmas and agonizing, debilitating pain all weekend. His MO was not available Friday and the best advice they could give was 'go to the ER.' I was furious. I was hoping we could stay local -- especially with the excellent reputation that UW has -- but enough is enough. And Mike realizes it too, saying he will talk to them tomorrow and see if he can get his records and recent MRI scans transferred to someone else for another opinion. I am actually opting for Northwestern as that would be a shorter drive and I believe that someone already mentioned the name of a specialist there. However, I'm open to suggestions and would like to know your opinions. Thanks,

Genny

[Tall_Allen]

Maha Hussain at Northwestern - the best. She has been lead investigator in many of the most important clinical trials. If she doesn't know something, it is probably not known by anyone.

[ctarleton]

To add to Tall Allen's suggestion:

cancer.northwestern.edu/fin...

Tell them about the pain.

Charles

[Ran2599dy]

I just had an appointment at Northwestern with Dr. Alicia Morgans. She is very well versed in PC and is taking new patients. However, she only has office hours on Mondays. I have had PC for 14 years and was a patient of Dr. Myers in Virginia until he retired. I would try Northwestern.

[cesanon]

Northwestern is a teaching hospital. The particular docs I used there I believe almost killed me. I ended up traveling to use Dr. Myers.

I believe there is currently a woman doc there who is good with prostate cancer, but I don't remember her name.

Institutionally, I would choose Mayo over Northwestern if you are looking for cutting edge out of the box approaches. Institutionally, it is very difficult for a Doc to practice like that at Northwestern.

[RJ-MN]

I have been treating my CPa @ Mayo in Rochester, MN since it was detected in 2006. I have had my radical retropubic prostatectomy there, my salvage radiation there, my ADT therapy there (since 2010), my Provenge series there (2013), as well as continued ADT injections and periodic consultations during my current 4-year clinical trial at the NIH. I loved my initial urologist and my radiation oncologist; both were humane & patient centered. My experience with Medical Oncology, however, has been a very mixed bag. Initial contacts were so-so; then I had a good 6 months with one until I failed to get into his clinical trial, at which point he really lost interest in me. For 3 years I had a wonderful oncologist in Dr. Dronca, but she recently moved to Mayo/Jacksonville. At my last return to Mayo my appointment was simply given to the "team." The MO I received asked me why I was there if the NIH clinical trial was shepherding my care and castigated me for taking up his time. He said that Mayo was turning away patients, and that I could get a Lupron injection anywhere. When I detailed my long history with Mayo and stated that it had been Dr. Dronca's wish to at least see me annually as we continued ADT under her supervision, he agreed to prescribe a 6-month Lupron injection and left.

I was born at Mayo. I worked my way through college @ Mayo. My mother and my mother-in-law both worked decades at Mayo. As an employee and then as pastor I have spent countless hours everywhere in the Mayo Buildings. I love Mayo, but I cannot recommend their MO Dept. at the present time.

[Waubesa94]

Thank-you, everyone, for your responses. And apologies to RJ above for your shoddy treatment at Mayo in recent years. I've always resented the 'Get the second opinion' line for these reasons: you might not get the opinion you're hoping for or see any truly different results. After yesterday's appointment at UW, my husband seems to be a bit better, if not totally satisfied with the answers he's received. (I'll write more about that in my other post). To me, all of this proves what I've always sadly believed about so many people in the medical field: They are in the wrong profession, PERIOD.

[David2703]

Dr. Richard Choo, Mayo, Rochester, was very good. Mayo has both types of radiation therapy if needed. I forgot the name of the standard radiation they have, plus they have proton radiation.

mayoclinic.org/biographies/...

Sorry this is so late.