Follow up care with a nurse practioner?

pamput

I am 7 years post diagnosis and have no complications.  I see my oncologist once a year for check ups.  I was recently notified that I would be seeing a nurse practioner at my oncologist's office instead of the doctor.  I don't know how to feel about this.  I've found nurse practioners can be very through and knowledgeable at my primary care and pediatrician's office.  But it seems to me that if I'm only being seen once a year by a doctor specializing in cancer, it should be the doctor.  It makes me a little nervous.  I considering finding another doctor.  Does anyone know if this has become the standard of care?  Anyone else seeing a nurse practioner for their follow up care this far from diagnosis?

BethNY

I understand how you feel. I asm approaching 5 yrs since my diagnosis, and I'm still on the 6 month plan. I think after this checkup next week I may graduate to the one year plan. I'm trying to put myself in your shoes... thinking two years from now, how would I feel if I saw an N.P. instead of my onc.

I guess it would depend on what's going on in my life. I hope to get pregnant in the next two years, so I think I would feel comfortable if my onc was still the one following up-- BUT, on the flip side, if I didn't have anything wrong- no issues, and the N.P. was doing all the same bloodwork, I think I would be okay with it.

If you're not okay with this you should speak up. I'm sure your onc would be happy to see you.

Chelee

 Hi Pam, This is one topic that's come up many times for me personally.  I've asked others opinons about seeing a NP in place of my oncologist.  Most say they are fine with seeing a NP and that you get more time with them then your oncologist can spend with you...therefore more questions answered etc. But for me personally now that I'm dealing with a cancer dx I refuse to see the NP.  Prior to my breast cancer dx I have seen lots of NP's and they are knowledgable and great in most cases.

But now I'm dealing with stage IIIA, Her2/neu 3+++, 5 of 16 positive nodes BREAST CANCER.  I pay a $30.00 co-pay and I'm sorry but I EXPECT to see a REAL DOCTOR...one that has been through all the schooling, training, internship, and has EARNED that "MD" after their name.  Nurse practioners are very good most the time but they aren't quit yet a doctor with YEARS of practice behind them and as far as I'm concerned they will not...and CANNOT MAKE me agree to see the NP in place of my oncologist!

I noticed since I'm over 3 yrs out from my bc my oncologist TRIES to schedule me with the NP all the time but I NICELY refuse to see her.  (And actually...I've seen this NP before and she is very nice and highly intelligent.)  But I STILL choose to see my oncologist rather they like it or not.  They try to force me into seeing the NP all the time and I really don't appreciate it.   As far as I'm concerned my oncologist is ONLY seeing me ONCE every 6 months now so it should NOT be that hard to fit me in twice a year.  The couple times I agreed to see the NP we had to bring IN my oncologist to answer my questions and straighten out some things that the NP had wrong.  (So what was the point of seeing the NP if my oncologist has to come in anyway!)

 This is a topic I'm very adamant about and I don't care what anyone says I WANT and expect to see my oncologist since I'm dealing with breast cancer.   I think it's only fair under the circumstances.  Being stage III, Her2, with positive nodes makes me a bit nervous...and I feel its my right to see a "doctor" since that's what I'm paying for.  (This is by no means anything against NP'S...I've had NP that have caught things my doctors have missed...but for now I want my oncologist for MANY reasons.)

 I think they are trying to get us to see the NP's in order to lighten the load on our oncologist.  I do understand that and can appreciate it.  Had I been dx differently I might be ok with it...but I'm with you on this one...I'm just not comfortable with it.

Chelee

crazy4carrots

This is an interesting discussion!

I have limited experience with Nurse Practitioners, but I have heard through others that they are exceptionally thorough and, as has been said, seem to have more time to examine and just listen to the patient.

If you've been recommended to see an NP instead of an oncologist, do you know if the NP reports all findings to an onc?  Sometimes patients are reluctant to see an oncology resident in a teaching hospital instead of their onc, but the resident reports back to the onc and if there are any concerns, the onc steps in and looks after the problem.

Chelee

I have always found this an interesting topic as you do Lindasa...I'm surprised there have been no other replies to it?  Hummmmm...

 Chelee

Jaimieh

I'm no where near as far out from Dx as you are but I have been seeing a NP since the beginning.  I see my Onc. one appt. and the NP the next.  Not sure how I feel about it but I am in the office every 3 weeks so very frequently.  I think at 7 years I would want to see the onc. for my yearly appt. 

nasharayne

I agree with Chelee. The co-pay is the same so, I would expect to see a real doctor especially when it's so infrequent.  Thank goodness I don't have this issue because my oncs office does not have NPs.