What is an ideal follow-up health care regimen for cancer survivors?
This will vary depending on the type of cancer you had and the type of treatments. Many, if not most, cancer survivors are not getting adequate follow-up care after treatments. For some, late effects begin showing up within a few years after treatment while others do not see late effects for many years. Since two-thirds of all survivors will experience some late effects, knowledgeable care is essential. The IOM notes, “in recognition of the toll its late effects have on health, cancer is increasingly being viewed as a chronic disease.” As with any chronic disease, follow-up provided by a knowledgeable provider or team of providers is key to good outcomes. Finding adequate providers is covered on this website’s Provider List. Also provided is a link to guidelines for ongoing preventive care. Institute of Medicine, Maria Hewitt, et al, eds, “Childhood Cancer Survivorship,” p. 55-37 Institute of Medicine, Maria Hewitt, et al, eds, “Childhood Cancer Survivorship,” p.
