Just finished treatment

What happens now?

After your final treatment appointment, you might be eager to go back to your pre-cancer activities. You might also be wondering what happens now. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled with your cancer specialist, but these might not be for weeks or months.

Before the final treatment session, it may be helpful to talk to your cancer care team about a plan that sets out what happens next and who you can call for support and advice. 

It may feel scary to see your cancer care team less regularly. Some people miss the familiarity and security of the treatment centre. This is normal and common. If you need support or have any concerns between appointments, see your general practitioner (GP) or call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20.

The thing that I found difficult at the end of treatment was I left the mothership, the hospital. It becomes like this space station that you go to all the time and all your crew are there and suddenly you’re at home... How can you manage that?

Julie

Follow-up care

After treatment, you may have check-ups every 3-6 months for several years. These appointments are usually with your cancer specialist or your GP. They monitor your health and watch for any signs that the cancer might return (recurrence).

How often you have follow-up appointments will depend on:

• the type of cancer and treatment
• any side effects you’re managing
• other health conditions.

After treatment, your GP can become a central member of your healthcare team. They can:

• order some tests and scans
• help you manage ongoing symptoms or side effects
• refer you to other health professionals like physiotherapists, dietitians or psychologists
• see you between specialist visits.

What is survivorship care?

After you finish cancer treatment, you will still have regular health care and support. This can help you adjust to life after cancer, stay well and manage any ongoing side effects. This is sometimes called survivorship care.

Your cancer care team can develop a plan for after treatment. This plan could list follow-up appointments and screening tests, symptoms to watch out for and explain long-term side effects. A summary of your treatment will usually be sent to your GP. You can ask for a copy of this summary.

You can develop your own plan after treatment and review it with your treatment team or GP. The  Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre provides a template you can download and fill out.

Which other health professionals may I see?

Different health professionals can support your wellbeing and help you adjust to daily life after treatment. Many are known as allied health professionals. Allied health professionals who may help after cancer include:

• physiotherapists 
• occupational therapists 
• exercise physiologists 
• dietitians 
• psychologists or counsellors 
• social workers. 

Ask your GP whether a chronic condition management plan (GPCCMP) could help you. This plan can help with the costs of seeing some health professionals. Through a GPCCMP, Medicare can help cover the costs of some allied health visits.

Looking after yourself