Your Cancer Survivorship Care Plan

"What's next?" is one of the most common questions asked by anyone who is diagnosed with cancer. In the immediate days and weeks following a cancer diagnosis, "what's next?" will focus on treatment options, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. You'll figure out what to ask your doctor and how to plan your next steps.

For people who are a little further into their cancer care plan, "what's next" may mean "for the rest of my life." It's not uncommon to feel a sense of letdown after treatment ends. Without the structure of regularly scheduled treatment appointments and reporting to clinic for blood tests, many people feel lost.

Questions, Questions

Compounding these stresses are questions about your medical future. How often do you need to see your oncologist? How will you be monitored to make sure cancer is caught early if it comes back? How will you be monitored for any long-term side effects from your cancer or it's treatment? Will your primary care doctor understand what you've been through? The questions are endless.

A Guide for Finding Answers

A noted group of cancer experts, some of the best in the world, have come together to publish a comprehensive cancer survivorship report to help answer these, and many other, questions. The entire report is available online and outlines the key components of a good long-term care plan for cancer survivors, such as:

• Addressing employment concerns of cancer survivors
• Improving access to adequate and affordable health care
• Prevention of recurrent and new cancers and other late effects of cancer care
• Good coordination between specialists and primary helath care providers to make sure all of the cancer survivor's health needs are met
• Identifying psychosocial and mental health needs and care plans for survivors
• Connecting survivors with supportive services, if needed

If you are a cancer survivor, and remember that "cancer survivor" includes anyone diagnosed with cancer, from the moment of diagnosis onward, this report can be a terrific guide. It can help you figure out what you need, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and how to get it from your cancer care and primary health care teams.