What Do Patients Need When The Cancer Prognosis Changes? | Michele Neskey, PA-C

You can study medicine for years and still feel unprepared for the moment you deliver news that changes someone’s life, then immediately have to walk into the next room and do it all again. That emotional handoff is one of the most invisible skills in healthcare, and it’s exactly what we unpack with Michelle Nesky, The Posh PA, who has spent more than 20 years as a physician assistant in oncology.

We get practical about what oncology care really looks like: the difference between medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology, and why treatment goals can range from cure to recurrence prevention to long-term control of metastatic disease. Michelle shares how she “resets” between patient encounters, why you have to process hard moments instead of stuffing them down, and how relationship-heavy cancer care changes the way you communicate. We also talk about the game-changing shift toward immunotherapy, biomarker testing, and personalized cancer treatment, plus a reality check on chemotherapy side effects and how far supportive care has come.

Then we pivot to the other side of her work: helping future PAs get accepted. Applying to PA school through CASPA can be uniquely stressful because prerequisites and requirements vary across programs, and a small mistake can cost you an interview. Michelle breaks down what strong applicants do differently with essays, strategy, and interview prep, including the kind of “emotional reset” question that separates good candidates from unforgettable ones.

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Virtual shadowing is an important tool to use when planning your medical career. Whether as a doctor, a physician assistant, a therapist or nurse, here Shadow Me Next! we want to provide you with the resources you need to find your role in healthcare and understand your place in medicine.