This information explains the role of survivorship nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in the Survivorship Program at MSK.
NPs are registered nurses who have advanced education and training to care for you. PAs are medical professionals who have special training to practice medicine under the supervision of a doctor.
In our Survivorship Program, NPs and PAs provide follow-up care for people who finished their cancer treatment at MSK.
What to expect during your survivorship clinic visit
As you continue your care in our Survivorship Program, you will be seen by an NP or PA. They will work directly with the doctor(s) who treated you to help you manage your life after cancer treatment.
You will see your NP or PA in person at our survivorship clinic or at a telemedicine visit. They will:
- Talk with you about your medical history.
- Give you a physical exam if you’re seeing them in person.
- Order tests if needed (such as X-rays, scans, and blood tests), and review the results.
- Prescribe medicine, if needed.
- Look for signs of cancer recurrence (the cancer coming back).
- Ask you about any side effects of treatment.
- Recommend screening tests for other cancers.
- Provide counseling about living a healthy lifestyle, such as diet, exercise, and quitting smoking.
- Give you a referral to another healthcare provider, if needed.
After each visit, your NP or PA will share any important updates about changes to your health with your doctor(s).
To learn more about what you can expect during your survivorship clinic visit, watch the video below.
To learn more
- If you would like to learn more about our Survivorship Program, talk with your doctor or nurse.
- If you’re being cared for in our Survivorship Program and have any questions, talk with your NP or PA.
- Visit our Survivorship Program website, Living Beyond Cancer, for resources and programs available to survivors: www.msk.org/experience/living-beyond-cancer
- Our Resources for Life After Cancer (RLAC) Program offers social support, education, and counseling for people who have finished treatment. To learn more, visit www.msk.org/cancer-care/survivorship/services-survivors or call 646-888-8106.