Survivorship

What’s the next step after treatment? When do I call? What do I look for?

Who can answer my concerns?

Questions like these and more can be answered at your survivorship appointment.

A cancer survivor is any person living with cancer or who has had cancer in the past. Either way, having cancer affects people in numerous ways including mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially. Our survivorship program will help you navigate these challenges!

After Completion of Treatment …

You will be scheduled to meet with an oncology trained Nurse Practitioner (NP) who will:

• Provide you with your treatment summary and survivorship care plan
• Address any areas of concerns you have regarding symptoms or side effects
• Ensure you have the support you need during your transition back to work and/or family
• Explain recommended post-cancer treatment routine healthcare needs, and your cancer care follow-up routine
• Assess and facilitate referrals for services that may help you now

Your Treatment Summary…

• Describes your cancer diagnosis
• Lists medical treatments you received or are receiving
• Helps you talk with healthcare professionals who were not a part of your cancer care team
• Gives you a record of your cancer treatments

Your Survivorship Care Plan…

• Is the record of your cancer history and recommendations for follow-up care
• Includes your treatment summary
• Explains what follow-up appointments and tests you will need and when you should have them
• Describes preventative measures you can take to help you stay well
• Lists possible side effects of your cancer treatments and ways to manage them
• Reviews ways to manage your physical and mental health

Related Readings

"Hope as a Strategy"  by Ernest Rosenbaum, M.D. and David Spiegel, M.D.