The Colon Club

Hi! Question—

So my mom started off with an Oncologist in Iowa City who is currently handling her treatment plan. We also were able to visit Mayo yesterday for a consultation with their oncology, radiation and colorectal surgery depts. my mom is a candidate for the short course radiation and thus we will likely have her radiation and surgery done at Mayo. Both oncologists thought it was a promising approach to try neoadjuvant chemo with her first. We also have chemo services locally which everyone agreed was a reasonable place to go for infusions vs driving anywhere (“chemo is chemo.”)

So..who really ends up being my mom’s onc? Iowa City? Mayo? Or local onc? Can we pick or is it decided based on the physical location where she receives chemo? What about in the long run for scans and follow up?

Once I had my team at MSK, I needed a local oncologist for 3 rounds of Folfox that my MSK oncologist wanted me to have prior to liver resection. When I met with the local oncologist, I made it clear to him who was running the show. He was only to do what MSK prescribed. He was a pompous jerk, but went along with it - after all, he's making how much for each treatment?

I believe my MSK oncologist spoke with him regarding my treatment. And anyone who knows Dr. Kemeny knows she's not putting up with a bunch of stuff from anyone. I love her.

hiker

My local oncologist deferred to Mayo. No attitude at all. Of course at first he thought palliative care was all they could do for me, so I think he was interested to see what the latest care was for stage 4.

Dave

I spoke to the local folks and got second opinions from Dana Farber in Boston. The Dana Farber doctors (oncologist and radiation) agreed with my treatment plan from the local doctors. I am starting surveillance with Dana Farber in two weeks. I think that local/remote is fine.

We considered our "main"oncologist the Dr. at MDA. He screened my husband, set up the treatment plan, did all the surveillance scans etc., our local oncologist just followed the orders from them as far as treatment, chemo. We live in Kansas and our "main" oncologist was in Texas at MDA. I think many people have this kind of a set up if your not fortunate to live near a major top rated cancer center.

deb m

My main doctor is in Denver but I have traveled to the Mayo Clinic for some treatment. I consider the local doc the one in charge of my treatment but as others have posted it could certainly be the other way around. The choice is up to you.

Mayo (and the other big oncologists) has plenty of experience with being your primary onc, and working with your local onc to execute the plan. Personally I think you have bigger benefits with making Mayo primary because they have more experience, depth of bench (specialists), and resources. Using the local onc to execute the plan is great for cost savings in addition to Mayo for the experience. That's my opinion, YMMV.

My oncologist was with the University of Minnesota. I would see a primary on occasion in my hometown, 8 hours away.