Cancer

The Mayo Clinic experience and patient stories

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients.

How advanced surgical skills returned a physician to the podium after brain cancer
From left to right: Dr. Ian Parney (Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon), Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, Dr. Ugur Sener (Mayo Clinic neuro-oncologist). When Dr. Bobby Mukkamala found himself on the other side of the exam table, he relied on the cutting-edge surgical techniques at Mayo Clinic to get him back to his professional work. While presenting at a professional meeting, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, normally an eloquent speaker, began speaking incoherently for about 90 seconds. "Given my age of…
Resecting the unresectable: The right place, the right team
CV Rao and his wife, Madhavi In April 2023, CV Rao had just returned from a work trip in Europe when he started experiencing abdominal pain on his right side. His wife, a doctor, recognized that he needed to see his primary care physician for an ultrasound scan. When the ultrasound didn't show anything, CV's care team ordered a CT scan. The results were alarming — a 7 centimeter tumor, the size of a large…
(VIDEO) A rare cancer. A rare weapon. Curtis Jackson's inspiring story of survival
Curtis and Kim Jackson Curtis Jackson was living his dream life — a loving and supportive wife, three wonderful kids, and a future that looked as bright as could be. Then, one day, without warning, the dream was shattered. At only 46, Curtis was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, one of the deadliest and most aggressive forms of cancer. It's a silent killer that strikes the liver. It is often diagnosed in later stages, leaving patients with few…
(VIDEO) Tennis champion shares journey from breast cancer diagnosis to Olympic medalist
Gaby Dabrowski For most athletes, the road to the Olympics is paved with years of training and sacrifice. As professional tennis player Gaby Dabrowski was preparing for her 2024 season and a chance to play in the Summer Olympics, her journey took an unexpected detour. A diagnosis of breast cancer threatened her dream and her life. What followed was a carefully coordinated plan at Mayo Clinic, designed not only to treat the cancer but also…
Farmer inspires new potential bladder cancer treatment
Minnesota farmer Craig Smith's bladder cancer treatment has inspired a clinical trial. Learn more at Mayo Clinic.
New lymphoma therapy helps couple continue their love story
Joanne and Paul McDonnell at the Mayo Clinic park in Florida When an aggressive lymphoma threatened to derail a couple's happily ever after, the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center helped them find a future. Joanne McDonnell likens her longtime romance with her husband, Paul, to that of June Carter and Johnny Cash. The two have known each other since they were kids — specifically, third grade for Joanne and fifth for Paul. "She was my…
Living beyond diagnosis: Angela's 30-year journey with ependymoma cancer
Chris and Angela Bristow stand beside their daughter Ayla At just 19, Angela Bristow's life took an unimaginable turn. A college student with her future ahead of her, she was thrust into a world of MRIs, surgeries and grueling treatments when diagnosed with ependymoma, a cancer that typically affects the brain and spine. In her case, however, the tumor was located near her coccyx — an exceptionally rare location for this type of cancer."I'll never…
Cheryl Robinson volunteering on the same floor where her husband received cancer care
Cheryl Robinson volunteering in Florida. Blink and you'll miss Cheryl Robinson going in and out of rooms and preparing each for patients. Her speed is matched by her dedication as a volunteer and the compassion shown toward those seeking care on the Hematology/Oncology floor in Florida. A former commercial insurance professional, Cheryl’s journey took a heartfelt turn when she became a caregiver to her husband, Jim Robinson. Their love story, rooted in shared struggles and…
How a different mammogram experience led to lifesaving cancer diagnosis
Melissa Neuman dreaded getting mammograms. Her small, dense breasts made the screening exceptionally uncomfortable and painful. So Melissa put off getting an annual mammogram until she felt she couldn't delay any longer. For about five years, Melissa had been plagued with a nagging pain just under her left breast. In February 2023, a recommendation from a friend led her to seek care from Jessica Johnson, an OB-GYN nurse practitioner with Mayo Clinic Health System in Owatonna, Minnesota. "She took me seriously,…
A tale worth hearing
Carole Reisinger and husband Rick Carole Reisinger’s body was telling a story that nobody would ever want to hear. "It started last February when I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Thanks to the medical staff at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, five days later, I had a 9-by-5-centimeter tumor removed," says Carole Reisinger. But it was during that surgery, the second story was about to be told. "In the process of that surgery, the surgeons noticed…

Pagination Patient Stories

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

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Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

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Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota

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By Mayo Clinic Staff

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Doctors & departments

Nov. 19, 2024