Kathryn Tumelty, MSN, AOCNP

I received my NP degree in 2003 and worked in Emergency and Urgent care settings. I chose to specialize because I missed developing relationships with my patients. In Emergency care you tend to see a patient once and never again. In a field like oncology you develop lasting relationships with all of your patients.

I had an opportunity to focus on breast cancer in 2005 and have become very passionate about the disease and those who are affected by it. The women who have breast cancer are such an inspiration to me because of their strength and their ability to fight this battle and continue as loving wives, mothers, daughters and sisters. I leave work every day feeling blessed that I have the opportunity to meet and care for such amazing people.

Breast Cancer is unique in the world of oncology because so many of our patients are able to beat the disease. The continued research that we participate in gives me great hope that we will have a cure for this disease in the future. It is one of the few disease that has continued breakthrough medications.

I came to Fox Chase when my family relocated to the Philadelphia area in the summer of 2007. After having spent 2 years at Duke University Medical Center in their Breast Oncology group I was instantly attracted to Fox Chase's reputation and uniqueness. It is a very focused center and everyone has the same goals . . . to find a cure for cancer! The doctors and nurses that I have the privilege of working with on a daily basis are world renowned in their field and are thought leaders in the world of breast cancer. It is truly an amazing experience to be on the cutting edge of cancer treatment.

My role as a breast medical oncology nurse practitioner at Fox Chase is to work hand in hand with the physician teams to develop individualized care for each patient and their unique disease. I help patients understand their disease and the treatments they are going to need. Once on treatment I help patients deal with side effects of the medications as well as problem solve when a patient is sick.

I have the unique opportunity to see breast cancer patients across the spectrum of care. I am there at their first visit and through out their treatments. I also run the Survivor's clinic which is where patients come once they have reached 3-5 years since their diagnosis. In this setting we focus on long term issues and how to "live" as a cancer survivor.