Do you feel ‘unsettled’ after 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.
What happens to a cancer patient after treatment is complete?
At some point after cancer treatment is complete, a patient's main medical care may eventually move back to their primary care physician. Cancer survivors often say they feel lost in this transition. I recommend each patient takes time with their oncologist to clarify the follow-up schedule of visits and tests recommended for the future.
How often will I need to see a doctor after treatment?
Doctor visits: If you have finished treatment, your follow-up doctor visits will probably be scheduled for every few months at first. The longer you have been free of cancer, the less often the appointments are needed.
Why do some patients refuse to ask questions during treatment?
For example, some patients prefer to race through treatment without asking questions and then need and deserve an opportunity to go over what just happened to them and confirm they have a clear understanding of what will follow.
What is end of treatment?
An EOTS is a document developed at the end of treatment which is primarily for the patient but is also shared with their GP and placed in their case notes, which is useful for medical staff if the patient is admitted in an emergency after primary treatment is complete.
What is post treatment followup?
A follow-up care plan is a summary of your treatment, along with recommendations for your cancer care after treatment ends. Your plan may also include suggestions to help meet other needs, such as emotional, social, or financial issues. Choose your doctor.
What do you say after chemotherapy treatment?
Here are some ideas:"I'm not sure what to say, but I want you to know I care"."I'm sorry to hear that you are going through this"."How are you doing?""If you would like to talk about it, I'm here"."Please let me know how I can help"."I'll keep you in my thoughts".
What term means return of tumor after treatment?
Listen to pronunciation. (REE-laps)
What is a follow-up plan?
Listen to pronunciation. (FAH-loh-up kayr plan) A detailed plan given to a patient after treatment ends, that contains a summary of the patient's treatment, along with recommendations for follow-up care.
What are follow-up appointments for?
Overview. Followup is the act of making contact with a patient or caregiver at a later, specified date to check on the patient's progress since his or her last appointment. Appropriate followup can help you to identify misunderstandings and answer questions, or make further assessments and adjust treatments.
What happens when you finish chemo?
After chemotherapy ends, you will have regular appointments with your oncologist or haematologist to monitor your health, manage any long-term side effects, and check that the cancer hasn't come back or spread.
What happens after 3rd chemo treatment?
Nausea, vomiting, and taste changes You may experience nausea (feeling like you might throw up) and vomiting (throwing up) after your last chemotherapy treatment. It should go away in 2 to 3 weeks. Your appetite may continue to be affected due to taste changes you may have experienced during your treatment.
Do you ever fully recover from chemotherapy?
Some side effects of chemotherapy only happen while you're having treatment and disappear quickly after it's over. But others can linger for months or years or may never completely go away.
What is medical term remission?
(reh-MIH-shun) A decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although cancer still may be in the body.
When are you considered in remission?
To qualify as remission, your tumor either doesn't grow back or stays the same size for a month after you finish treatments. A complete remission means no signs of the disease show up on any tests. That doesn't mean your cancer is gone forever. You can still have cancer cells somewhere in your body.
Is Ned the same as remission?
Complete remission means that tests, physical exams, and scans show that all signs of your cancer are gone. Some doctors also refer to complete remission as “no evidence of disease (NED).” That doesn't mean you are cured.
What happens when a person in recovery sees setbacks as failures?
The person in recovery often sees setbacks as failures. This can lead to more using and an even greater sense of failure. If the cycle continues, he or she stops focusing on the progress he has made and begins to see the road ahead as overwhelming. 2.
How to avoid relapses?
Practicing the drug-free life that began during detox and rehab on a daily basis is critical to relapse prevention. Some of the steps to maintaining abstinence include: 1 Learning to live in the real world without drinking or using drugs. 2 Working on the problems that substance abuse caused within your family, with your finances, at your job and with your friends. 3 Staying away from people and places associated with your substance abuse. 4 Learning what makes you want to drink or use again, so you can avoid those things. 5 Getting treatment for health issues that led to the substance abuse, such as depression, anxiety or other mental conditions. 6 Identifying relapse triggers and learning how to cope with the urge to use again in healthy ways. 1
Is relapsing a substance abuse disorder possible?
Guarding Against Relapse. The chronic nature of substance use disorders means that relapsing at some point is not only possible, but likely. Relapse rates for people struggling with substance abuse are similar to relapse rates for other chronic medical illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.
Is it possible to live a substance free life after treatment?
But for most people recovering from substance abuse, life after treatment is when the real challenges begin. Simply abstaining from a substance is not enough. Creating a new, substance-free life takes daily, and often hourly, commitment. Without this level of commitment to change, all the factors that contributed to the addiction still exist.
Does relapse mean treatment has failed?
Treatment of chronic diseases involves changing deeply imbedded behaviors, and relapse does not mean treatment has failed. For a person recovering from addiction, relapse indicates the need for more or different treatment.
What are the options for cancer treatment?
Although courses of action will vary depending on the diagnosis, generally speaking, most options for cancer treatment include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted or biological therapies.
What is radiation therapy?
In radiation therapy (also called x-ray therapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy or irradiation), high-energy rays are used to damage cancer cells so they are unable to grow and multiply. Radiation therapy is directed only to a specific area of the body where treatment is needed.
What is biologic therapy?
Biologic agents target specific message systems within cancer cells that send signals to turn on cell growth. Some biologic agents have been approved for treating cancer in combination with chemotherapy agents. Many others are being studied to block different growth pathways of cancer cells.
What is the result of a complex interaction between cancer-causing substances called?
Cancer is rarely caused by a single factor; rather, it is the result of a complex interaction between cancer-causing substances called carcinogens, DNA mutations and heredity.
How does surgery help with cancer?
Surgery. Surgery removes the tumor and any nearby tissue that may contain cancer cells. Sometimes, healthy tissue around the tumor has to be removed to help keep the cancer from spreading. Possible short and long-term side effects depend on the location and extent of surgery.
Can chemotherapy be used with radiation?
Often, more than one drug is used during a single course of treatment, and many chemotherapy drugs are applied in combination with surgery, radiation and hormonal therapies. Chemotherapy drugs target cancer cells, but can have toxic effects on healthy cells, and temporary side effects can occur.
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.
Do cancer survivors want to give back?
Many cancer survivors want to give back, and you will find them volunteering or acting as advocates at cancer clinics and philanthropic organizations. It's also important to recognize that many cancer survivors face an uncertain future and feel unsettled.
How long after cancer treatment do side effects show?
Some side effects might not even show up until years after you have finished treatment. Visits with your doctor are a good time for you to ask questions and talk about any changes or problems you notice or concerns you have. However, if you have additional concerns about your cancer, you do not have to wait until your next scheduled visit.
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 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 does a doctor look for in a woman with cancer?
If the cancer recurrence is confirmed, your doctor may also look for circulating tumor cells in the blood, or measure levels of blood tumor markers such as CA-15-3, CA 27-29, or CEA. The blood levels of tumor markers go up in some women if their cancer recurs or has spread to other parts of the body.
Do you need to keep medical records after cancer treatment?
Keeping health insurance and copies of your medical records. Even after treatment, it’s very important to keep health insurance. Tests and doctor visits cost a lot, and even though no one wants to think of their cancer coming back, this could happen.
Does breast cancer go away?
For some women with advanced breast cancer, the cancer may never go away completely. These women may continue to get treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or other treatments to help keep the breast cancer under control and to help relieve symptoms from it. Learning to live with breast cancer that doesn’t go away can have its own type ...
What is hospital in medical terms?
A hospital is a place where patients’ time is always controlled by other people’s schedules. Visitors come when it’s convenient for them. So use your visiting time to meet your friend’s wishes. If you want to bring a gift, bring one that provides comfort. My favorites were:
What to bring to a hospital visit?
If you want to bring a gift, bring one that provides comfort. My favorites were: 1 Petroleum-free lip balm because hospital air can be dry 2 Cushy socks because hospitals are often cold 3 A guestbook so I could remember all the people who came to visit 4 A soft toothbrush that doesn’t cut the gums, reducing the risk of infection
Can you spell "overall health" without oral health?
And remember, you can’t spell “overall health” without oral health.
What is ECT therapy?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment that sends a small electric current to your brain to cause a seizure. The seizure affects the chemicals in your brain, which may make your brain cells work better.
How long does it take for ECT to go away?
ECT may cause memory loss and confusion. Your confusion may go away in a short time, such as 1 hour after your treatment. You may lose your memory for 1 to 3 weeks, and some memories may be lost forever.
Can you fall after ECT?
If more ECT treatments are planned for you, ask the healthcare provider to give you medicine before the treatments to help prevent headaches. There is a greater chance that you will fall after ECT treatments . Ask someone to help you when you want to stand up or walk.
What to expect after cancer treatment?
Follow-up care after treatment. After cancer treatment, you will have follow-up care from your health care team to make sure everything is going well and find out if you have any concerns. Beginning to recover. After cancer treatment you may find you need time to regain and rebuild your physical and emotional health.
How long after cancer treatment do side effects occur?
They can also be side effects that do not happen until months or years after treatment. Making decisions about work after treatment. Deciding what to do about work after you have finished cancer treatment can depend on your situation.
Is it normal to feel emotions after cancer treatment?
It's normal to feel lots of different emotions when you finish cancer treatment. We're here to help. Find out about follow-up care, managing treatment effects and making healthy lifestyle changes.
Does late effect go away after cancer treatment?
It can also help to reduce the risk of other illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes. Late effects are side effects that do not go away after cancer treatment. They can also be side effects that do not happen until months or years after treatment.
Is it common to worry about cancer coming back?
Worrying about cancer coming back is very common. Ask your doctor or nurse if there are any symptoms you should look out for after treatment finishes. Being aware of symptoms. Worrying about cancer coming back is very common.
