As a result of the great strides made in successfully treating breast cancer, we have incorporated a breast cancer survivorship clinic into the overall care plan for our patients. This clinic, part of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's institution-wide survivorship initiative, provides services that specifically address the unique needs of breast cancer survivors in the years following treatment, including:
- Review of recent medical history and physical examination
- Assessment to detect recurrence of cancer
- Identification and management of the effects of cancer and its treatment
- Screening referrals for other cancers
- Health promotion recommendations on topics such as nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation
- Written treatment summary and follow-up care plan
- Communication with your primary care physician
Women in the Breast Cancer Survivorship Clinic have regularly scheduled follow-up examinations with one of our nurse practitioners (NP) with special training in breast cancer survivorship issues.
After your first survivorship visit, the NP will send a letter to your primary care physician summarizing your cancer treatment and outlining a plan for follow-up care. The physician can then incorporate this information into your overall medical plan. After each subsequent visit, the NP will continue to update your primary care physician.
As your need for cancer care decreases, follow-up care may be transferred to your local physician. The timing for this depends on your particular cancer and treatment. The NP will communicate all the information about your cancer care and follow-up to your local physician. Memorial Sloan Kettering is available if you or your doctor ever have a question about your care or a new cancer-related problem arises.
Your Follow-Up Care Team
Kristen Cognetti, NP
Kristen Cognetti first began at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in 2003. She has worked in the women's health unit and in the breast medical oncology group. She has also worked at Dana-Farber Cancer Center as a research nurse with the colorectal group. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Nurse Practitioner Program.
Megan Dunne, ANP, RN
Megan Dunne has worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering since 1990. She is a graduate of New York University's Nurse Practitioner program and in addition to the breast service, has worked as a nurse practitioner on the thoracic and chemotherapy research service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering.
Kathleen Keenan, ANP, RN
Kathleen Keenan began working at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in 2002. She is a graduate of Columbia University's Nurse Practitioner program. Prior to joining Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Ms. Keenan worked at Dana-Farber Cancer Center on the Breast Service.
Martha Rodriguez, ANP, RN
Martha Rodriguez has been a nurse practitioner since 1995. She is a graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing. She has worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as a nurse practitioner for more than ten years. Prior to joining the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program, she worked in Perioperative Services, which provides high-quality care for patients before, during, and after surgery or other invasive procedures.
