What is follow-up care and a survivorship plan?

What is follow-up care and a survivorship plan?

After your cancer has been treated, it’s highly recommended that you talk to your medical team about a follow-up care plan. As part of your follow-up care plan, you will see your primary care provider, or your PCP, for regular medical check-ups.

Follow-up care check-ups may include a physical exam, bloodwork, as well as other tests and procedures that look for changes in your health or any problems that may occur due to your cancer treatment. These follow-up care visits are also a good time to check for physical, psychosocial and mental health issues that may occur months or years after treatment ends.

Your follow-up care plan, along with a summary of your cancer treatment, is part of what is called a survivorship care plan. A survivorship care plan will have all the details that you and your doctor should discuss to ensure you get regular care after your cancer treatment ends. 

Each cancer patient has a different follow-up care schedule. How often you return for follow-up care is based on the type of cancer you’ve had, the cancer treatment you’ve received, and your overall health, including any possible treatment-related issues .

In general, you’ll return to your doctor for follow-up appointments every 3 to 4 months during the first 2 to 3 years after completing treatment, and once or twice a year after that, however, this may vary from patient to patient.

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