Plan for Cancer After Care and Follow-Up

The post treatment phase of cancer care is, for the most part, a neglected area. This situation really needs to change. As cancer treatments are nearing an end you need to ask for an "After Cancer Care Treatment Plan."

Here is some information that will help you understand what a Cancer After Care Plan is and what it can do for you.

"Follow-up care" is-- regularly scheduled appointments over the next 2-5 years that provide an ongoing assessment of your health.

Purpose--to identify changes in health, check for signs of recurrence of your cancer and/or metastasis of your cancer. You doctor will also monitor any side effects from your treatments and determine if any late effects are developing. If you experience any significant changes in your health in- between appointments contact your physician.

Frequency of visits--depends on the type of cancer you experienced, but typically survivors return to their oncologist every 3 to 4 months during the first 2-3 years after treatment and once or twice a year after that for the next 2 years.

Which physician provides the follow-up care-- often, at least for the first few years, you can receive follow-up care from your oncologist. Some insurance companies have specific guidelines --ask the clinic manager or social worker for help with this.

Your Primary Care Physician should be kept informed about your medical information. Ask your oncologist to send copies of all summaries and reports to your Primary Care Physician.

Information that should be included in a "Cancer After Care and Follow-Up Plan--

• Date of diagnosis
• Physician, practice, hospital etc--all pertain names, phone numbers and addresses
• Type, stage and grade of cancer
  
• Summary of treatments --dates, location, complications, side-effects
  
• Summary of drugs--dates, dosages, who prescribed and why
• Suggested schedule for follow-up visits
• Follow-up tests
  
• Symptoms you should watch for --and what to do, who to call if symptom occurs
• Common long-term and late-effects of the treatments you received
  
• Suggested life style changes
• Referrals to agencies that can help you with physical, emotional, sexual, social, spiritual issues

All of this information and more is covered in a 2005 report entitled, "From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Translation." Here is a link that offers some offers additional resources and links that are interesting and helpful.

http://www.iom.edu/?id=31512

Asking for and receiving a Cancer After Care Follow-Up Plan may take some effort but it will be well worth it. You need to have an understanding of exactly what your follow-up care will look like. You need a plan.

Be proactive in this area, because, as we say at Chemossentials, reclaiming body, mind and spirit is essential to restoring your well-being.