the type of cancer you had the treatment you received your 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.
How often should I see a doctor after cancer treatment?
Active surveillance is often used to mean monitoring the cancer closely. Usually this includes a doctor visit with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test about every 6 months and a digital rectal exam (DRE) at least once a year. Prostate biopsies and imaging tests may be done every 1 to 3 years as well.
How often do I need follow-up appointments for cancer treatment?
Doctor visits: If you have finished treatment, your follow-up visits will probably be every few months at first. The longer you have been free of cancer, the less often the appointments are needed. After 5 years, they are typically done about once a year.
How should I talk to my doctor about my cancer treatment?
Oct 10, 2005 · In general, survivors see their doctors for follow-up exams about every three or four months during the first two to three years after treatment, according to …
How often do you see a doctor for follow-up exams?
ON THIS PAGE: You will read about your medical care after cancer treatment for early-stage and locally advanced breast cancer is completed and why this follow-up care is important. Use the menu to see other pages. Care for people diagnosed with cancer does not end when active treatment has finished. Your health care team will continue to check that the cancer has not …
How often should you see your oncologist during treatment?
The American Society of Clinical Oncology, for example, recommends an exam by a doctor every 3 to 6 months for 3 years after diagnosis, then every 6 to 12 months for the next 2 years, and then every year.Apr 12, 2019
What is considered active treatment for cancer?
Treatment given to cure the cancer, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This does not include long-term treatment such as hormone medication, which may be taken for several years to maintain remission.
Are cancer treatments weekly?
Each 3-week period is called a treatment cycle. Several cycles make up a course of chemotherapy. A course usually lasts 3 months or more. Some cancers are treated with less recovery time between cycles.
How many treatments do cancer patients have?
Some people with cancer will have only one treatment. But most people have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. You may also have immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or hormone therapy. Clinical trials might also be an option for you.
What does it mean when cancer is active?
“Active cancer” is defined as cancer not received potentially curative treatment, or when there is evidence that treatment has not been curative (e.g., recurrent or progressive disease), or when treatment is ongoing [33].Apr 9, 2020
When is cancer considered active?
Cancer is considered an active condition when the medical record documentation clearly reflects active treatment directed to the cancer for curative or palliative purposes. Documentation should include the following: Presence or absence of complaints or symptoms related to cancer.
How many times a week do you have chemotherapy?
How often will I Therapy? Chemotherapy drugs are typically given in cycles. The cycle consists of the day(s) the drug is administered followed by a rest and recovery period. A cycle usually lasts one to four weeks and is then repeated, which means a treatment is administered every one to four weeks.
Is 4 rounds of chemo a lot?
During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.
Can you have chemo 5 days a week?
You can have chemotherapy once a week or for several days, then rest for several days or weeks. The breaks give the drugs time to do their job. Rest also gives your body time to heal so you can handle side effects like nausea, hair loss, or fatigue. Each set of doses is called a cycle.Feb 13, 2022
What is the most successful cancer treatment?
Any cancer treatment can be used as a primary treatment, but the most common primary cancer treatment for the most common types of cancer is surgery. If your cancer is particularly sensitive to radiation therapy or chemotherapy, you may receive one of those therapies as your primary treatment.Jun 4, 2020
What cancer has the lowest survival rate?
The cancers with the lowest five-year survival estimates are mesothelioma (7.2%), pancreatic cancer (7.3%) and brain cancer (12.8%). The highest five-year survival estimates are seen in patients with testicular cancer (97%), melanoma of skin (92.3%) and prostate cancer (88%).May 25, 2021
What is the 5 year survival rate for all cancers combined?
Survival tends to vary by age at diagnosis and generally decreases with advancing age. During the diagnosis years 2008–2012, the five-year RSR for all cancers combined was 83.8% for people diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 44 years compared to 34.6% for those 85 to 99 years of age at diagnosis (Table 4.2).
Can prostate cancer patients live longer after surgery?
Some have found that men who have surgery might live longer, while others have not found a difference in survival.
Is a low PSA level good?
Is associated with low PSA level (<10ng/ml) They are not likely to be good options if you have a fast-growing cancer (for example, a high Gleason score) or if the cancer is likely to have spread outside the prostate (based on PSA levels).
Can prostate cancer be monitored?
Instead, their doctors may recommend observation (sometimes called watchful waiting) or active surveillance.
How long does breast cancer treatment last?
Almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some might only last for a few days or weeks, but others might last a long time.
What happens if cancer comes back?
If cancer does return, your treatment options will depend on where it comes back, what treatments you've had before, and your current health and preferences. For more information on how recurrent cancer is treated, see Treatment of Recurrent Breast Cancer .
How to plan for cancer survivorship?
Talk with your doctor about developing a survivorship care plan for you. This plan might include: 1 A suggested schedule for follow-up exams and tests 2 A schedule for other tests you might need in the future, such as early detection (screening) tests for other types of cancer, or tests to look for long-term health effects from your cancer or its treatment 3 A list of possible late- or long-term side effects from your treatment, including what to watch for and when you should contact your doctor 4 Diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle modification suggestions
What is a survivorship plan?
This plan might include: A schedule for other tests you might need in the future, such as early detection (screening) tests for other types of cancer, or tests to look for long-term health effects from your cancer or its treatment.
Can you call your doctor about cancer?
However, if you have additional concerns about your cancer, you do not have to wait until your next scheduled visit. You can call your doctor immediately.
Do you need a mammogram after a mastectomy?
Women who've had a mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) typically no longer need mammograms on that side. But unless you've had both breasts removed, you still need to have yearly mammograms on the remaining breast. To learn more, see Mammograms After Breast Cancer Surgery.
Can uterine cancer cause spotting?
Although this is usually caused by something that isn’t cancer, it can also be the first sign of uterine cancer.
How long after radiation can you get cancer?
Also, lung, breast, or stomach cancers can occur 10 or more years after treatment. In another example, women who have undergone chest radiation face increased risk of breast cancer. "They needed to have mammography done at more frequent intervals," McCabe says.
Why is follow up important for cancer patients?
Follow-up also allows survivors a chance to take part in their own care and to regain a sense of control that they lost during treatment. They may want to ask their doctor the following:
What happens when cancer treatment ends?
When cancer treatment ends, a survivor still undergoes regularly scheduled medical exams and tests to check for signs that the cancer has returned or spread to another part of the body. Doctors also screen for other types of cancers and watch for side effects from cancer treatment.
What are the symptoms of cancer?
According to the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, cancer survivors should report the following: Any symptoms that create concern that cancer has come back. Pain, especially pain that does not go away or occurs in the same place. Lumps, bumps, or swelling. Unusual bleeding, rashes, or bruises.
Can radiation cause infertility?
While radiation and chemotherapy can offer a cure, they can also create side effects, such as fatigue or infertility -- or even new cancers a decade or two down the road. Through follow-up, "we want to make sure that we minimize the serious side effects that may occur," she says.
Is cancer a blessing?
Surviving cancer is a blessing. "But it comes at a cost," says Mary McCabe, RN, MA, director of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Cancer Survivorship Program, which develops medical and psychosocial services and educational programs for cancer survivors.
Why do we need follow up care for breast cancer?
One goal of follow-up care is to check for a recurrence, which means that the cancer has come back. Treatment for early stage or locally advanced breast cancer is given to eradicate as many cancer cells in the body as possible. However, cancer recurs because small areas of cancer cells that don't respond to treatment may remain undetected in the body. Over time, these cells may increase in number until they show up on test results or cause signs or symptoms.
What is the goal of cancer rehabilitation?
The goal of rehabilitation is to help people regain control over many aspects of their lives and remain as independent and productive as possible. Learn more about cancer rehabilitation. Learn more about the importance of follow-up care.
How do you know if you have breast cancer?
Breast cancer can come back in the breast or other areas of the body. Generally, a recurrence is found when a person has symptoms or an abnormal finding during a physical examination. Annual mammograms are also recommended after a diagnosis of breast cancer. The symptoms depend on where the cancer has recurred and may include: 1 A lump under the arm or along the chest wall 2 Pain that is constant, worsening, and not relieved by over-the-counter medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) 3 Bone, back, neck, or joint pain, fractures, or swelling, which are possible signs of bone metastases 4 Headaches, seizures, dizziness, confusion, personality changes, loss of balance, nausea, vomiting, or changes in vision, which are possible signs of brain metastases 5 Chronic coughing, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing, which are possible symptoms of lung metastases 6 Abdominal pain, itchy skin or rash, or yellow skin and eyes from a condition called jaundice, which may be associated with liver metastases 7 Changes in energy levels, such as feeling ill or extremely tired 8 Having a low appetite and/or weight loss 9 Nausea or vomiting 10 Rash or skin changes on the breast or chest wall 11 Changes in the shape or size of the breast, or swelling in the breast or arm
Why is follow up care important?
Doctors want to keep track of your recovery in the months and years ahead. Follow-up care is also important for screening for other types of cancer. In some instances, patients may be able to visit a survivorship clinic that specializes in the post-treatment needs of people diagnosed with breast cancer.
What is a recurrence of breast cancer?
Generally, a recurrence is found when a person has symptoms or an abnormal finding during a physical examination. Annual mammograms are also recommended after a diagnosis of breast cancer. The symptoms depend on where the cancer has recurred and may include: A lump under the arm or along the chest wall.
Can cancer come back after treatment?
Over time, these cells may increase in number until they show up on test results or cause signs or symptoms. Many survivors feel worried or anxious that the cancer will come back after treatment. While it often does not, it’s important to talk with your doctor about the possibility of the cancer returning.
What is a lump under the arm?
A lump under the arm or along the chest wall. Pain that is constant, worsening, and not relieved by over-the-counter medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) Bone, back, neck, or joint pain, fractures, or swelling, which are possible signs of bone metastases.
aftercare
My Rad. Onc. is seeing me every 3 months for the first year, then every six months for the next 4. I am having a mammogram and MRI alternating every 6 months for the next 5 years.
I had triple negative breast
I had triple negative breast cancer stage 3 with lymph node involvement (10 out of 15 nodes were involved). I had a mastectomy with axillary node dissection. I discovered a lump near the mastectomy site so my family dr did a chest x-ray and has found lung nodules on the right lung so I'm going for a CT scan tomorrow.
My first BC was in 1994 have
My first BC was in 1994 have seen the onc ever since. now rads onc once a year. prob same with surgeopn unless something else comes up. It depends on your treatment.
I see my oncologist and rads
I see my oncologist and rads oncologist every 3 months. I have a mammo and an ultrasound every 6 months now.
We're all different
I saw my Chemo Dr at a month post chemo and then in another 6 months. Will be seeing him again in 6 months. I was told that I will be seeing him at least every year and possibly every 6 months forever. Saw Rads Dr.
I have seen my Onc. 2 times
I have seen my Onc. 2 times since finishing chemo in July. I will be seeing him every 3 months for now, not sure after the first yr. He did tell me I would be seeing him for 5 yrs and that we would become good friends! I am on Tamoxifen so I am not sure if that is part of the reason. Everyones follow up is different.
Seeing my rads oncologist
Seeing my rads oncologist and oncologist still every 3 months. I admit I like it this soon, as, I feel that I am still being well cared for, which I am. I love my doctors! ♥ Kristin ♥
What happens if you treat a tumor for the first time?
When you treat a tumor for the first time, there is hope that the treatment will destroy the cancer cells and keep them from returning. But if your tumor keeps growing, even with treatment, there is a lower chance that more treatment will help.
What is clinical trial?
Clinical trials offer new, experimental treatments. Ask your doctor if you are eligible for a clinical trial. Or check www.clinicaltrials.gov. At any time during your treatment you can get help to relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life. It’s called palliative care.
What are the services of hospice?
Hospice care can be in your home, in a hospice facility, or at a hospital. Services include: 1 Doctor and nursing care 2 Pain management 3 Medical equipment and medicines to ease symptoms 4 Grief counseling for family and friends 5 Social worker services 6 Respite care, to give your caregivers a break
What is hospice care?
Hospice is care for your physical, mental, and spiritual needs at the end of life. It does not treat your cancer, but it helps keep you free of pain and other symptoms. And it helps you and your family get the most out of the time you have left together. Hospice care can be in your home, in a hospice facility, or at a hospital.
Can cancer treatment make you feel better?
If you have had three different treatments and your cancer has grown or spread, more treatment usually will not help you feel better or increase your chance of living longer. Instead, more treatment could cause serious side effects that shorten your life and reduce the quality of the time you have left.
Can cancer help you live longer?
And you need to know if more treatment for cancer will help you live longer. Ask your doctor to explain the risks and benefits of any treatment. Fighting the cancer may no longer be the best thing for you. Sometimes, if there are no more known treatments and you want to continue trying, you can join a clinical trial.
How long can you live in hospice?
You may have reached that point if: Your doctor does not think you will live for more than six months. There are no other treatments with more benefits than risks.
What happens after cancer treatment?
A: We hear from many patients that the time after completing active cancer treatment is a time when they feel ‘unsettled’ and worry about an uncertain future. Some may even feel anxious about the possibility that the cancer could return and worry they may not be doing enough to catch any signs early enough. It is also important to note that many patients still have unpleasant symptoms related to their treatment for months or even years after treatment ends. Unfortunately, it is common for patients to experience fatigue, difficulty sleeping, problems with memory, persistent pain or tingling from neuropathy, and emotional distress.
How to deal with cancer fears?
Information and education are essential to regain some control. Sharing one’s fears and worries with loved ones, a support group, or seeking professional help can and will bring relief. It is normal to have many concerns after completing treatment for cancer and important to feel supported and accompanied in this journey.
Why do people have poor body image?
Some patients may also suffer from poor body image or low self-esteem because of the treatment they received and changes it caused. They often need help to learn to accept their new body.
Does cancer affect the family?
A: Cancer affects not just the individual who received the diagnosis, but the entire family unit . Caregivers and well-wishers help support a patient during cancer treatment, and their love, support, and worry will continue after treatment as well. This means they may also need their own emotional support during this time.
