Face to face frequency?

[3putt]

Afternoon brethren. Hop all are enjoying a fun filled fall day. Quick question for your consideration: How often do you meet face to face with your oncologist? During my first year I met with him every 3 mounts. Then it was every other visit as he introduced his nurse practitioner into the rotation. This year I’ve yet to see him as his NP has seemed to have taken the lead. My MO practices at the Cleveland Clinic and I was wondering if this is a standard practice. Thanks all in advance!

[Fightinghard]

Sounds typical. Once you are on a smooth glide path, the SOC is fairly simple to follow. The NP can let the MO know when its time to revise treatment plan. Then MO Should jump back in.

I usually see the MO every other 3 month visit. I take this as positive news. No crisis

[3putt in reply to Fightinghard]

Thanks!

[Hidden]

That's what is happening to me also at Mayo. Fortunately, the NP or whatever she is has a really good bedside manner and is helpful to me

[3putt]

I’m feeling the same way, Additionally, just returned home from an awesome long weekend of golf at Old Beau in NC. I’ve truly earned the 3 Putt monicker!

[RyderLake2]

Hello, Face to face with oncologist? Since the pandemic started in 2020 my oncologist has gone from face to face meetings every three months to telephone calls every three months. I do see him in person at the Cancer Clinic approximately once a year. My hunch is I would see my oncologist in person more often if my condition was to worsen (or if the pandemic eases). One big issue here is they don't like admitting reasonably healthy people into big hospitals. Hope that helps!

[Yadifan]

Hi 3putt.We've been doing telemed visits with our doc. For right now my husband's on chemo and his results and tolerance is good. This is a mutual choice at this time and will have an in office appointment if anything changes.

[fireandice123]

Typically, I see my MO every 3-4 months. It’s always him. He occasionally may have a resident in tow to observe since it’s teaching hospital. I’ve never seen a NP.

[Shooter1]

Common-- once treatments are set and blood tests show improvements or stability, most MOs step back to deal with pressing problems with other patients.... Mine was blood every 3 mo and face every 6 mo until he judged ending of effective treatment time for my Xtandi was near.. then blood every month and face every 3 mo. Back to this now after urologists, radiation oncologist, and Provenge people got through with me after recurrence and PSA is dropping back to less than 0.5. He does respond to phone and emails..even on Sundays.

[MateoBeach in reply to Shooter1]

That sounds s excellent all around

[treedown]

I see my MO every 3 months. If my PSA is stable in December he said it will go to blood every 3 months and visits every 6 months. I stopped all ADT as of 10/16/21.

[Gearhead]

3putt, your experience is more-or-less consistent with my experience. For last couple of years, my routine has been: Appointments every 3 mo (blood work followed by Dr. or Physician's Assistant meeting followed by Lupron & Xgeva injections. Meeting with Dr. is about every 6 mo (and most of those are video during covid) and in-between meetings are with skillful-seeming PA) As others have said, I think this is typical if there are no new developments in your condition.

[dhccpa]

I met with MO every six weeks until this year when we shifted to every three months. Stable all the way for threw years now.

[3putt]

Thanks a million my friends. Your feedback continues to put my fuzzy mind at ease.

[BigTex3]

I’m guessing I must be in pretty bad shape or I got lucky with my Dr. I read all of the replies and no one else said they see their MO every month. At Texas Oncology I’ve seen him every 4 weeks for the last 16 months. I’m hoping to get to a point where it’s every 3 months or even 6 months. In all our situations, I feel that less is best. 😀

[Hidden in reply to BigTex3]

Every month for me as well. My Doctor and NP would rotate visits, then it was the NP for several months in a row, now, Monday will be my third straight with Oncologist and not the NP. I actually prefer the Nurse, Dr. is a little cold. For my first year of treatment I saw my Urologist only, I switched a little over a year ago to an oncology hematology doctor because I felt better about having a Full appointment with labs, Dr visit and infusion center every month as opposed to simply going in for an injection. I'm being treated by Penn Medicine here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, it seems to be and excellent group.

[dadzone43]

Saw MO every three months from diagnosis to two years after surgery. Saw urologist every three months also. Now in year three seeing each every six months. The rotation is staggered so I see one or the other every three months and have a PSA every three months. Might be PSA-overkill but comforts me.

[wagscure259]

I see my MO in person every 3 months at MSK. The visit consists of the NP first, then sometimes a fellow, then the MO and fellow together. A fellow is not always part of the equation.

[Hidden]

Another thing is insurance reimbursement. These companies are relentlessly cutting down on visits and who handles the visits. All sorts of rules for “in network”

[EdBar]

My local MO has been trying to do the same, I request to see him when making the next appointment and don’t leave it to the scheduler to make that decision. I see my local every couple of months and my out of town specialist every 6 months.

Ed

[HerbieP]

I see my clinical trial folks (Duke CHAMP clinical trial), then the NP, then my MO w/NP each appointment at Duke Cancer Institute.

[pjd55d]

for oncologist I see every other visit and the PA in between - same with PCPI am a big believer in Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants - my experiences with them is great - Lucky me

[TylexGP]

I am being treated at MSK and do telemedicine visits I alternate right now MO then NP I am currently still on monthly telemedicine visits and blood draws.

[j-o-h-n in reply to TylexGP]

who ya seeing at MSK?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday10/27/2021 6:43 PM DST

[TylexGP in reply to j-o-h-n]

Dr. Daniel Gorovets did my HDR Brachytherapy, Dr. Guttman for EBRT and Dr. Chung Huan Lee is my MO. I like him he is direct but compassionate.

[j-o-h-n in reply to TylexGP]

Thank you for your quick reply.

Dr. Michael Morris is my M.O.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday10/27/2021 7:51 PM DST

[ppulatie]

Every three months for me. And down to once a year for urologist since MO is taking such good care of me.

[tarhoosier]

This is a bit to the side of your question. During the pandemic I had video visits with the MO. At that time a national emergency (or something) was declared which suspended state licensing regulations so doctors could consult with patients outside their licensing state. My MO is in NYC and I am in NC. Similar to storms, floods and such when medical and contractors may come and work without local license until emergency passes. Now I am on an alternating in person and video visit schedule. MO said he must see his patient(s) in person at least once per year for an actual consultation, (vitals, questions, medication adjustments all logged) with other consultation type possible outside the 1x/yr. He did not say if this is insurance, Medicare, institutional or other regulation requirement

[3putt in reply to tarhoosier]

Makes perfect sense. Thanks everyone!

[Bunkerboy]

Before Covid every 3 months. Now only phone conversations.

[j-o-h-n]

If you don't want Video appointments with either your MO or his/her P/A then next video chat, moon him/her. I guarantee he/she would rather see you Face to Face and not Cheeks to Face.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday10/27/2021 7:01 PM DST

[Joecarver]

See my MO every other month with PA in-between, blood work every month. PA Is very informative ,and wants the know exactly how is feel and will decide if I need a scan, after consult, she has never been refused.

[Hidden]

Hey 3 putt! I too meet the mo every ninety days for the past six years . It’s good to be tested .