What to Expect Post-Treatment
Finishing cancer treatment is a big milestone, but recovery and care don’t end there. Post treatment, it’s normal to have questions and even concerns. This section helps you understand what happens next, from follow up visits to physical and emotional changes , so you can feel confident and prepared.
Follow up Appointments and the Transition to Survivorship
You’ll keep seeing your healthcare team regularly at first, every few months, then less often over time. These visits help your doctor check for any signs the cancer may return and look for side effects from treatment. It can be tempting to skip a few of these appointments but try to keep them as seeing your team regularly can help catch earlier signs of recurrence or if you are not healing well, early interventions can be made. It can be common have mixed feelings of relief and anxiety as you transition from regular visits to more time in between them.
American Cancer Society. Managing your health care after cancer. Updated August 18, 2023.
Some Changes to Look Out for
What to Expect:
Even after treatment ends, some changes might stick around. You might notice:
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Fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
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Jaw stiffness or pain
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Dry mouth (Xerostomia) or trouble swallowing
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Changes in taste or smell
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Trouble speaking or hoarseness
These can improve with time or therapy, and your care team can help manage them. Use a symptom tracker to help monitor how long these symptoms have been going on for and bring it with you for your next visit.
Emotional Recovery
Finishing treatment can bring many emotions, happiness, relief, but also fear or sadness. This is normal. Talking to a counselor or joining a support group can help. It’s okay to ask for help. Anxiety, depression, or PTSD are common. Support groups and mental health professionals trained in oncology can help. Talking to other survivors can also help create a tight knit community where you can share similar experiences from someone who has undergone that same experience as you.