Hi Dave,
Firstly, congratulations on another clear check up! I'm glad those worries were nothing to worry about.
Sorry to hear you are losing a great PA (is that your specialist Dr?)
I think it takes a special person to go into this field of medicine and over time you do form a special relationship with each other...after all they see you go through so much...the pain, the struggle, the hard long fight. I would feel at a loss too if my Dr had to leave. He recently informed me he was going on a 2 1/2 months (well deserved!) holiday,
and I remember feeling quite nervous about that. We have put all our trust and faith in him, as he has gotten us through some dicey situations. I'm just hoping nothing serious happens to me while he is away. However, I have to believe that I will be in good hands and I am really happy he is getting this break to spend time with his family. They deserve him too!
You will find another gem Dave...that's the kind of people they are

DaveJ: I have to confess that when my Onc told me that he had taken another job, I hugged him, told him he had saved my life and lost it totally. Sad day, but I was glad that he went on to bigger and better things -- Mayo Clinic in FL. I had completed all of my chemo, and had recovered from my last round, and was for all intents and purposes "out of the woods" so it was more of an emotional thing than a medical complication. But I know how you feel. We have much in common. Take care -- daveB

Dave,

I am sorry you had to say good bye to a trusted PA. I have a favorite PA who I have affectionately nick named Dan Dan the bone marrow man. I bet you can guess why..... he is amazing at bmb. While getting induction, I had a horrid bmb experience with another PA that forced me into the fetal position and in tears. Dan swooped in and finished the biopsy. Since that event, no one else has done my bmb. I had my last one in Jan of 2014 and pray to almighty God I never need another. But if I do, I pray Dan Dan the bone marrow man is available.

Julie

It's hard not to get attached to the doctors, nurses, and staff that support us on so many different levels throughout our journey. I know your visit must have been bittersweet because of your PA's announcement, but it's awesome that you got such good results. Congrats on your continued progress! :)

thank you everyone. I feel a little foolish for even bringing it up now, pretty trivial problem compared to what some are dealing with. It struck me like a ton of bricks that day,just one more obstacle that I wish I didn't have to overcome but will. she was one of the good things that came from leukemia and will be dearly missed. Dave, I have had dry eyes from the transplant and she asked me if I was able to make tears early in the visit and I said no, when I hugged her goodbye I told her I guess I was wrong. her husband is a youth pastor, her profession is definetly gods calling for her. Yet another thing for to me to give thanks for. Julie, I could have used dan dan the biopsy man!! lol!
DaveJ

Dave,

The most important thing is that you are doing well.

Personally, I have really not developed a dependency on anyone, except perhaps my transplant doctor, who is a gem. The nurses, PAs and NPs are good people, but I have had several and have liked them all.

Right now, I am in the process of moving the majority of my care to local doctors. I have mild kidney damage from the treatment (very mild) and now see a nephrologist 10 minutes from my home instead of at Sloan Kettering. If I need a pulmonologist again (I had RSV pneumonia in January), I will find one here, etc. At this point in my recovery, I can get CBCs and chemistries locally and get the results to my transplant doctor. To me, this type of separation makes me feel more like a normal person (if I ever was, LOL).

To say these things does not diminish my appreciation for my doctors at Sloan Kettering one iota. It just means that their help has made me healthy enough to return to the world of local medical care. That is a heady feeling.

Nevertheless, DaveJ, I do understand your sadness. But in the oncology field, there are so many wonderful and caring PAs who are ready to assume the position of caretakers. It just means that you will get even more love.

Be well.

Cliff

I only hope I can make a lasting impact on patients as I begin my journey to become a PA this fall. I always appreciated the doctors and nurses who took the time to connect with me on a personal as well as a medical level. They are few and far in between!

I think with your direct experience of being a cancer patient and survivor you can rest assured that you will have a huge impact on your patients. It should prove to be very rewarding career for you.
Davej