This information explains the role of survivorship nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in the Survivorship Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK).
NPs are registered nurses who have completed advanced education and training to provide you with care. PAs are medical professionals who are certified 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 our survivorship clinic, where they will:
- Talk with you about your medical history.
- Give you a physical exam.
- Order tests, such as x-rays, scans, and blood tests, and review the results.
- Prescribe medication, if needed.
- Look for signs of cancer recurrence (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 follow-up visit, your survivorship NP or PA will give your doctor(s) an update about your health.
For more information about what you can expect during your survivorship clinic visit, watch the video below.
| Please visit www.mskcc.org/pe/survivorship_np_pa to watch this video. |
For More Information
- If you would like more information 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.mskcc.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. For more information, call 646-888-8106 or go to: www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/survivorship/services-survivors