Page 125 - LIVESTRONG Digital Guidebook
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•	Future cancer care recommendations               you work with your oncology team and primary care
     including prevention methods and a schedule       provider to address the medical, emotional and so-
     for ongoing screening tests                       cial challenges that may arise after cancer treatment is
    •	Future cancer care provider recommend-           completed. By answering some questions related to
     ations for follow-up care including names,        your cancer treatment, you will receive information
     specialties and contact information               about your follow-up care. The information includes
                                                       symptoms to watch for in the future and steps you
STEP 3 — GET A HEALTH                                  can take to stay healthy. You can find the OncoLife
CARE FOLLOW-UP PLAN.                                   Survivorship Care Plan at https://www.oncolink.org/
                                                       oncolife/.
When treatment is done, your health care provider
should provide you with a health care follow-up        STEP 4 — GET INFORMATION FROM
plan. This plan tells you what you need to do to stay  YOUR HEALTH CARE TEAM TO
physically and emotionally healthy. Your follow-up     HANDLE YOUR CONCERNS.
plan should include the specific types of health care
you will need in the near and distant future.          Life after cancer treatment can be different. Your life
                                                       might have changed in many ways. You may have
    A health care follow-up plan should tell you:      developed a strong interest in making even more
   •	 What needs to be done in terms of future         changes in your life.

     health care                                           Talk with your health care providers about spe-
   •	 When it needs to happen                          cific areas of concern in your life. You may have med-
   •	 Where you can get help including referrals       ical questions, relationship issues and day-to-day
                                                       concerns. Your provider or other members of your
     to providers                                      health care team can help you find answers. Talk
                                                       with them as you work to develop your health care
    Include the following information in your health   follow-up plan.
care follow-up plan:
                                                           Here are examples of questions that you may
    •	Possible late and long-term effects of           have about life after cancer treatment:
     treatment including symptoms
    •	Signs and symptoms of cancer recurrence              Medical Concerns
     and other types of cancers                            	 Ask your oncology providers questions
    •	Information about social and emotional               about medical concerns such as:
     support including support groups and
     counseling resources                                      •	Can the cancer come back?
    •	Recommendations for healthy living including             •	Could a new type of cancer develop?
     information about risks and prevention                    •	What are symptoms and signs of recur-
    •	Recommended schedule for medical tests,                    rence or new cancer?
     cancer screening and specific types of exams              •	What aftereffects of treatment
    •	Referrals to specific health care providers for            are possible?
     follow-up care                                            •	How can aftereffects be treated?
    •	Contact information for nonprofit cancer                 •	What can I do to stay healthy and prevent
     services and other resources                                future health problems?
                                                               •	Will I need ongoing therapies such as
    The The OncoLife Survivorship Care Plan was                  physical therapy?
created to help you develop a personalized plan for            •	Will you provide a schedule for follow-up
post-treatment care. It is a free online tool to help            exam, screening and other medical tests?

“It begins to be about how you redefine yourself as a person,                                                    —AMY D.
drawing on all those things that you have experienced ... making
yourself into the new person that you want to be.” 		

www.LIVESTRONG.org/WeCanHelp                                      A F T E R T R E AT M E N T 125













































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