Aftereffects of Cancer Treatment: Suggestions
Keep a written record of all of your symptoms and concerns.
After treatment, be aware of the changes in your day-to-day physical and emotional health. Keep your health care team informed about changes that affect your overall well-being and ability to go about your daily routines.
Telling your health care team about all of the physical and emotional symptoms you are experiencing is very important to getting the right health care. However, describing your symptoms and concerns can be difficult. Writing this information down before your health care team visit can help you organize your thoughts and ensure that you report important information.
You can use the Livestrong Health Journal to write down all of your physical and emotional symptoms and concerns. The Journal includes:
- Instructions on how to use the Journal to organize your questions and concerns and prepare for health care team visits
- A Health Diary to record all of the physical and emotional symptoms you notice and when they happen
- A Health Care Team Appointment document to write down your appointment dates and questions you want to ask your health care team
- A List of Medications document to help you keep track of your medications
Questions you can ask your health care team about aftereffects.
Below are questions that can help you communicate with your health care team about aftereffects that you are already experiencing or that may happen in the future. Write these questions down in your Live Strong Health Journal or take this list with your to your appointments.
- Can you tell me what, if any, aftereffects there will be on my day-to-day abilities as a result of treatment? Will I notice these effects right away? Months from now?
- What early signs would tell me that something might not be right?
- For what signs or symptoms would I need to see a doctor?
- What doctor should I call for which signs and symptoms or problems?
- What specific abilities or functions might I expect to lose? How much of that ability or function can I expect to regain? Over what time period? (Examples of abilities or functions might include driving a car, working or participating in sports activities.)
- When can I resume sexual relations? When will it be possible for me to have a child? (These questions can be difficult to ask, but being honest and direct with your health care team will help you get information you need. They can help you recover and adjust in many areas of your life.)
- What are my options for treating ongoing symptoms or problems?
- Can you refer me to quality support services to help me with recovery? (Examples include physical therapy and rehabilitation services or psychological counseling services.)
- Will I need personal assistance at home? What type? For how long?
- Will I need special medical equipment and supplies? What type? For how long?
- How often should I have follow-up visits with you? How often should I have follow-up visits with another type of doctor?
- What kind of monitoring tests should I have and how often?
Use community resources to help you manage and understand aftereffects.
The aftereffects of cancer treatment can impact you and your family in many unexpected ways. When your life changes because of aftereffects, community resources can help you handle these changes.
The Additional Resources document provides a list of specific resources you can contact for services and more information on aftereffects.
These resources can help you
- Learn more about cancer treatments and possible aftereffects
- Find professional counseling resources to help you understand your symptoms and locate helpful community resources
- Join a support group to help you understand your experiences by learning from others
- Understand ways to handle employment, health insurance and life insurance problems that result from aftereffects of cancer treatment
- Locate in home care services to help you with challenging physical aftereffects
 Print This Topic
|
Email this story
