Advanced practice providers play an essential role in helping patients move from diagnosis to treatment with clarity and support. In this episode of Cancer Covered, breast surgical oncologist Dr. Judy Tjoe and nurse practitioner Mikayla Petzke of Green Bay Oncology explain how they work together to guide patients through the early stages of a breast cancer diagnosis and surgical decision-making, helping patients understand their options, process complex information and feel supported from the first phone call through survivorship care.

“Our goal is to minimize the amount of time that the patient feels alone to navigate this new cancer diagnosis.”
— Dr. Judy Tjoe

On this episode of Cancer Covered, you’ll learn:

How a breast surgical oncologist and nurse practitioner partner to support patients from diagnosis through surgery and follow-up care
Why early outreach after diagnosis helps patients feel more confident and prepared for their first consultation
How informed shared decision making helps patients choose between surgical options that are medically equivalent
What role support people play during consultations and why they’re included from the very beginning
How advanced practice providers can help patients process information and questions after the surgeon leaves the room

Mikayla and Dr. Tjoe bring up the illustrations that Dr. Tjoe does with patients to help explain their cancer diagnosis and what it means for their treatment options. Here are some real examples of what those illustrations look like:

If you liked learning about how Dr. Tjoe and Mikayla work together in caring for breast cancer patients, you may also like:

Patient story: “A 15 Out of 10”: Judy’s Breast Cancer Journey with Dr. Judy Tjoe
Podcast: Dr. Judy Tjoe on Breast Cancer Treatment Innovations and Patient Care

We’ve Got Cancer…Covered.

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