Q. I have an adrenal or thyroid cancer diagnosis and want to be treated by the UMHS Endocrine Oncology Program, what do I need to do?
There are many aspects to initiating a treatment plan, from travel to medical records to how your family may be involved. We encourage you to call our Patient Care Specialists, who can answer your questions and help get the appointment process started. Call 800-865-1125.
Q. I know adrenal cancer is rare - how many cases have the Endocrine Oncology Program doctor's treated?
Our physicians see approx 10-15 patients per week, approximately 200 visits per year.
Q. Will my insurance cover treatment at UMHS?
The University of Michigan accepts many different insurance plans. Because every medical insurance policy is different, we recommend that you check with your insurance carrier to understand how much of the costs they will cover. Learn more about U-M participating insurance by visiting this www.uofmhealth.org/insurance.
Q. How many visits will I need to make?
Every case is unique, but we strive to make your initial visit as comprehensive as possible. That's why it's important before you come to UMHS that you have a diagnosis. We can partner with your doctor to complete preliminary tests and lab work to make your visit most productive.
Q. Can you help me coordinate care and appointments?
Give us a call and we can help you with scheduling and talking to our team of doctors, and get you connected to U-M programs to assist with non-medical needs associated with your visit., . We are here to make your care as seamless as possible.
If you make an appointment, we will need to collect the following information from you in order to make your visit as productive as possible:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Phone/Email
- PCP (primary care physician) name/Phone number
- Referring MD name/Phone number
- First visit and Most Recent Doctor's notes
- First visit and most recent lab work
- Pre-operative and last two / most recent radiology reports
- Pathology reports
- Operative notes
- All pathology slides from biopsies and resections
- Pre-operative and most recent radiology films (Please send CD's in DICOM format)
Q. How long will I have to wait for a first appointment in the Endocrine Oncology Program?
Depends on the individuals situation - but typically wait time is 1-2 weeks.
Q. Does the Endocrine Oncology Program have any clinical trials for my type of cancer?
We have a very active endocrine cancer research program. To learn more about our current clinical trial, visit the the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research.
Q. I'm not familiar with Ann Arbor, can you help me find somewhere to stay?
The U-M Patient and Visitor Accommodations program can assist with your lodging needs. You can call them at 800-544-8684 or send an online reservations request.
Q. Are there any additional resources or cancer support groups available to help me?
Read more about the Adrenal Cancer Program at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center website or review our Related External Links on the right side of this page.
Learn more about adrenal cancer in the article, Collaboration is Key to Treating Uncommon Cancers [PDF]. This article is from CancerSCOPE and features Gary Hammer, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the University of Michigan's Endocrine Oncology Program.