It is natural for anyone who has completed cancer
treatment to be concerned about what the future holds. Many people are concerned
about the way they look and feel, and about what they can do to keep the cancer
from recurring (coming back). They want to know which doctor will follow them,
how often to see the doctor for follow-up appointments, and what tests they
should have. Understanding what to expect after cancer treatment can help
patients and their loved ones plan for follow-up care, make lifestyle changes,
and make important health-related decisions.
What is follow-up cancer care, and why is it important?
Follow-up cancer care involves regular medical
checkups that include a review of a patient’s medical history and a physical
exam. Follow-up care may include imaging procedures (methods of producing
pictures of areas inside the body), endoscopy (the use of a thin, lighted tube
to examine the inside of the body), blood work, and other lab tests.
Follow-up care is important because it helps to
identify changes in health. The purpose of follow-up care is to check for
recurrence (the return of cancer in the primary site) or metastasis (the spread
of cancer to another part of the body). Follow-up care visits are also important
to help in the prevention or early detection of other types of cancer, address
ongoing problems due to cancer or its treatment, and check for physical and
psychosocial effects that may develop months to years after treatment ends. All
cancer survivors should have follow-up care.
What should patients tell their doctor during follow-up visits?
During each visit, patients should tell their doctor about:
- Any symptoms that they think may be a sign that their cancer has returned.
- Any pain that bothers them.
- Any physical problems that interfere with daily life or are bothersome,
such as fatigue; difficulty with bladder, bowel, or sexual function;
difficulty concentrating; memory changes; trouble sleeping; and weight gain or loss.
- Any medicines, vitamins, or herbs they are taking and any other treatments they are using.
- Any emotional problems they are experiencing, such as anxiety or depression.
- Any changes in their family medical history, including any new cancers.
It is important to note that cancer recurrences are
not always detected during follow-up visits. Many times, recurrences are
suspected or found by patients themselves between scheduled checkups. It is
important for patients to be aware of changes in their health and report any
problems to their doctor. The doctor can determine whether the problems are
related to the cancer, the treatment the patient received, or an unrelated health issue.
How are follow-up care schedules planned?
The frequency and nature of follow-up care is
individualized based on the type of cancer, the type of treatment received, and
the person’s overall health, including possible treatment-related problems. In
general, people return to the doctor for follow-up appointments every 3 to 4
months during the first 2 to 3 years after treatment, and once or twice a year after that.
At these follow-up appointments, the doctor may
recommend tests to check for recurrence or to screen for other types of cancer.
In many cases, it is not clear that special follow-up tests improve survival or
quality of life. This is why it is important for the doctor to help determine
what follow-up care plan is appropriate. The doctor may not need to perform any
tests if the person appears to be in good physical condition and does not have
any symptoms. It is important for the patient to talk with the doctor about any
questions or concerns related to the follow-up care plan.
When planning a follow-up care schedule, patients
should consider who will provide the follow-up care and who will provide other
medical care. They should select a doctor with whom they feel comfortable. This
may be the same doctor who provided the person’s cancer treatment. For other
medical care, people should continue to see a family doctor or medical
specialist as needed.
Some people might not have a choice in who provides
their follow-up care, because some insurance plans pay for follow-up care only
with certain doctors and for a set number of visits. In planning follow-up care,
patients may want to check their health insurance plan to see what restrictions,
if any, apply to them.
Are there doctors or clinics that specialize in follow-up care?
There are a few clinics that specialize in long-term follow-up cancer care for adult and pediatric cancer survivors. A listing of
long-term follow-up cancer care clinics is available on the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) Web page at www.canceradvocacy.org/resources/guide/?cancerrelated_information=long-term-survival-clinics&essential_care=&cancer_type=
on the Internet. In addition, the Association of Cancer Online Resources (ACOR),
a cancer information system that offers access to electronic mailing lists and
Web sites, provides a list of long-term follow-up care clinics for children and
adolescents treated for cancer. This list is located on ACOR’s Pediatric
Oncology Resource Center Web page at www.acor.org/ped-onc/treatment/surclinics.html on the Internet.
What should patients talk to their doctor about once cancer treatment ends?
Every cancer survivor should request a comprehensive
care summary and follow-up plan from their doctor once they complete their
treatment. Patients should ask their doctor the following questions once cancer
treatment ends. The answers can help inform the patient about their care and
what to expect next.
- What treatments and drugs have I been given?
- How often should I have a routine visit?
- Which doctor should I see for my follow-up cancer care?
- What are the chances that my cancer will come back or that I will get
another type of cancer?
- What follow-up tests, if any, should I have?
- How often will I need these tests?
- What symptoms should I watch for?
- If I develop any of these symptoms, whom should I call?
- What are the common long-term and late effects of the treatment I received?
- What should I do to maintain my health and well-being?
- Will I have trouble getting health insurance or keeping a job because of my cancer?
- Are there support groups I can turn to?
Many patients find it helpful to write these questions down and take notes or tape record their discussions with the doctor to refer to
at a later time.
How can patients deal with their emotions once cancer treatment is completed?
It is common to experience stress, depression, and
anxiety during and after cancer treatment. Many people find it helpful to talk
about their feelings with family and friends, health professionals, other
patients, members of the clergy, and counselors or therapists. Being part of a
support group can provide another outlet for people to share their feelings.
Relaxation techniques, such as guided imagery and slow rhythmic breathing, can
also help to ease negative thoughts or feelings. Reaching out to others by
participating in volunteer activities can help people to feel stronger and more
in control. However, people who continue to experience emotional distress should
ask their doctor to refer them to someone who can help determine what may be
causing or contributing to their distress and how to deal with it.
What kinds of medical information should patients keep?
It is important for people to keep a copy of their
cancer treatment records. Ideally, this should include a comprehensive care
summary and follow-up plan from your doctor. Patients may not always see the
same doctor for their follow-up care, so having this information available to
share with another doctor can be helpful. In particular, it is important to keep
the following information:
- Results of any diagnostic test.
- Specific type of cancer (diagnosis).
- Date(s) of cancer diagnosis.
- Details of all cancer treatment, including the places and dates where
treatment was received (for example, type and dates of all surgeries; names
and doses of all drugs; sites and total amounts of radiation therapy).
- Contact information for all doctors and other health professionals
involved in treatment and follow-up care.
- Side effects and complications that occurred during and after treatment.
- Supportive care received (for example, pain or nausea medication,
emotional support, and nutritional supplements).
- Identifying number and title of clinical trial (research study), if the
patient participated in a clinical trial.
What other services may be useful during follow-up care?
Other services that may be helpful not just during
cancer treatment but also as part of follow-up care include support groups,
couples counseling, genetic counseling, fertility/sexual counseling, home care
services, nutrition counseling, physical therapy, pain management, and
occupational or vocational therapy. Some patients may also need financial aid or
assistance with transportation to and from appointments. Information about these
and other services is available from local and national cancer organizations,
hospitals, local churches or synagogues, the YMCA or YWCA, and local or county
government agencies. Patients can also ask their doctor, nurse, or social worker
how to find these services.
What research is being done in regards to follow-up cancer care?
NCI, a component of the National Institutes of Health,
funds the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). This study, which is
coordinated by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, has over 25 sites across
the country at medical institutions with doctors specializing in long-term care
for children and young adults. Information about the study is available at
ccss.stjude.org/ on the Internet. This study was created to gain new
knowledge and educate cancer survivors about the long-term effects of cancer and
cancer therapy, and to provide information about follow-up care.
Several additional studies being supported by NCI,
including the Experience of Care and Health Outcomes of Survivors of
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (ECHOS-NHL) study and the Assessment of Patients’
Experience of Cancer Care (APECC) study, will provide data on how and where
survivors of adult cancer receive their follow-up care and the special
information and service needs they may have.
In addition, a survey of physicians’ attitudes and practices regarding appropriate follow-up care for survivors is under way. This
work is being supported by NCI in collaboration with the American Cancer Society.
Source: National Institutes of Health; National Cancer Institute
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 5/17/2010...#5884
