- Cancer Information
- Ongoing Care
Ongoing Care
ongoing care
It's normal to feel lots of different emotions when you finish cancer treatment.
Your body will have been through so much and these effects can impact on the whole of your life and those around you.
After your treatment, you may have regular check-ups and possibly scans or x-rays. This will depend on the type of cancer and the treatments you have had.
For some people, the end of treatment means they are not likely to need any more cancer treatment. For other people, treatment is about managing the cancer over a long period of time.
Towards the end of your treatment, you usually have a discussion with someone from your cancer team. This may be with your cancer doctor, specialist nurse, or with another member of your healthcare team. It is a good idea to prepare for this and think about what you would like to ask.
They will talk to you about what to expect after treatment finishes, and your individualised follow-up care. Ask about any concerns or specific needs you have, and help you plan for your recovery. This may be called a personalised care and support plan. More information about this is available under the section named Personalised Care on this website
Your key worker
Your cancer team should give you details of who to contact after your treatment finishes. This maybe your nurse specialist, or another member of the cancer team. They may be called your key worker. Keep their contact details in your phone or somewhere safe and accessible.
Your GP and primary care team are also there to support you so it’s good to let them know you are approaching the end of treatment. You can talk to them about your concerns as well as your hospital teams.
Sometimes knowing what to expect can help people to adjust to life after treatment.
For example, you may want to know:
- How often you will have follow-up reviews and for how long?
- About any blood tests, scans or other tests you may need and how often you might need these?
- How best to contact your health care team?
- How to manage side-effects or symptoms?
- How to monitor yourself for signs and symptoms?
- How to keep yourself healthy and reduce the risk of recurrence
Follow-up Appointments
