![Maryanne C. Canavan](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/node/290216/main_image/canavan_171024_14_rt_1200x800-1.jpg)
I am a board-certified nurse practitioner (NP) with more than a decade of experience and special training in pain and supportive care (sometimes called “palliative care”). I help people cope with the symptoms of cancer and its treatment so they can have the best quality of life possible throughout their cancer journey.
I work alongside people with all types of cancer as they receive treatment, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation. I also see patients who participate in clinical trials. I strive to manage their pain and other symptoms both with and without medication.
My goal is to meet patients where they are in their treatment journeys and understand their priorities so I can best support them. I want my patients to feel as good as they can and be heard every step of the way.
I began my career as a registered nurse (RN) in 1999 and have been working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) since 2004. As an RN, I gained experience caring for patients with urgent medical issues related to cancer or cancer treatments in the Urgent Care Center.
As an NP, I worked on a fast-paced medical team caring for people with head and neck cancer, melanoma, and sarcoma. Understanding the importance of helping patients manage pain and other symptoms, I transitioned to MSK’s supportive care team to focus on patients receiving care in the hospital (inpatient). I now continue this work by caring for patients who receiving care outside the hospital (outpatient).
I have also had the good fortune to work on two innovative teams at MSK focused on symptom management, which included remote monitoring and telemedicine. This experience has allowed me to develop a strong skill set in supporting patients remotely when needed.
Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, hiking, yoga, and anything that allows me to play with my family, including my husband and two young daughters.