Linda Sesa, MSN, CRNP, AOCNP

My name is Linda Sesa and I am a nurse practitioner within the division of surgical oncology, specializing in diseases of the breast.  Here at Fox Chase, I established my own practice for the evaluation of women with abnormal mammograms, those with nonspecific breast complaints and cancer survivors desiring long-term follow-up care. Working closely with our breast surgeons, I evaluate newly diagnosed patients.

Prior to coming to Fox Chase in 2005, I was a nurse practitioner in the surgical oncology department and breast cancer survivors' clinic at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.  I was also coordinator of the STAR Trial, a study comparing Tamoxifen and Raloxifene for the prevention of breast cancer in women at risk of developing the disease.

I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1998 with my Masters Degree in Nursing and completed the Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program.  I am Nationally Certified and I am an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner. 

I chose to go into the field of breast cancer because I have a passion for helping patients at a time in their lives when they need compassion, understanding and knowledge about their disease.  I educate each patient so she can make an informed decision about her care.  I have been asked many times why I chose to work in breast oncology.  Quite honestly, I can’t imagine doing anything else that could give me more satisfaction then helping a patient through this difficult time.  I treat every patient the way I would expect someone to treat one of my own family members.

A gratifying part of my responsibilities at Fox Chase is being a preceptor for student nurse practitioners. Teaching nursing students in a cancer setting is a unique experience and I enjoy sharing that.

I think the most rewarding part of being a nurse practitioner at Fox Cancer Center is when a patient tells me that I have helped them through a difficult time, if even in some small way.  I realize that when a patient is being worked up for a breast abnormality or if she is diagnosed with breast cancer, the anxiety she experiences is overwhelming.  I try to ease her anxiety during the process, while making certain patients obtain appropriate care if they are diagnosed with breast cancer.

I choose to work at Fox Chase Cancer Center because I have the opportunity to work with our nationally and internationally recognized oncology breast team who are leaders in the field of breast cancer.  We were Pennsylvania's first hospital to receive Magnet status for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and have maintained Magnet status for the third time in a row.  This designation is the nation's highest form of recognition for nursing excellence and is one of the benchmarks used to measure the quality of care patients receive.  We are committed to providing patients with state of the art technology by offering improved treatment options and ongoing research.  It makes me proud to be a part of Fox Chase Cancer Center.

It is a privilege to care for patients with breast abnormalities and with patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I appreciate the confidence you and your family have placed in me and I am committed to making your experience as easy as possible for each and every one of you.

Video

Introductory Video of Linda Sesa

Nurse Practitioner

Meet other members of the
breast cancer treatment team.
Learn more about
evaluating mammogram results.

Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111-2497

For general information, call:
1-888-FOX CHASE.
An oncology certified nurse will assist you.

Nursing Education:

University of Pennsylvania, Masters in Nursing, Philadelphia, Pa., (Graduating Year)

Certification/Licensure:

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner;
Women's Health Certified Nurse Practitioner (WHCNP);
Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP)

Clinical Interests:

Breast Cancer

Professional Organizations:

Oncology Nursing Society;
American Society of Breast Disease;

Sigma Theta Tau International - Honor Society of Nursing

Presentations & Publications:

"Unique Opportunities in Breast Care Management" - Decision Making for Local Therapy of Breast Cancer Surgery: Patient and Caregiver Perspectives, Philadelphia, Pa., 2006;

"Diseases of the Breast," University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., 2005

"Operational Aspects of the Surgical Oncology Nurs Practitioner," American Society of Breast Disease 29th Annual Symposium, Las Vegas, NV, 2005