Follow-up care and support

Follow-up care

After treatment, you may have check-ups for several years. Some people have check-ups every few months at first, then less often. Appointments are usually with your cancer specialist or your GP. They monitor your health and watch for any signs that the cancer might come back (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.

If you live in a rural or regional area, you may need to travel for appointments. Ask your cancer care team if any appointments can be done by telehealth or through “shared care” with your local GP.

In shared care, your GP and cancer specialist work together to manage your follow-up care. You may see your GP for some appointments and your specialist for others. Your GP keeps in touch with your specialist about your care.

Ask for a survivorship care plan

When you finish cancer treatment, your cancer care team can provide a written record of:

• the cancer you had and the treatment you received
• possible late or ongoing side effects to watch for
• when and how often you need follow-up appointments and tests
• who to contact if you have concerns.

This written record is often called a survivorship care plan.

If you live in a rural or regional area, a survivorship care plan is especially important. It makes sure your local GP and other health professionals know what treatment you’ve had, any ongoing issues to manage, and what to watch for.

A plan can help you access the right care closer to home. Ask your cancer care team for a written plan.

Working with your GP

If you live in a rural or regional area, your GP is often the most important member of your healthcare team – especially when treatment finishes and you see your specialist less often. A GP can be your main contact for day-to-day health needs and help coordinate your care between local services and specialists as needed. Your GP 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
• attend telehealth appointments with your specialist if you wish and they agree.

Make sure your GP knows what treatment you had and has a copy of your survivorship care plan.

Other health professionals you might see

Different health professionals can support your wellbeing after treatment. Many are known as allied health professionals. They can help you build strength, manage side effects and adjust to daily life after treatment.

Allied health professionals who may help after cancer include:

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

For people living in rural and regional areas, allied health services may not be nearby. This can mean travelling for appointments, waiting longer for appointments, or using telehealth if available. Your GP or cancer care team will try to refer you to an allied health professional who is nearby.

Ask your GP whether a chronic condition management plan could help you. This plan can assist with the costs of seeing some allied health professionals (e.g. physiotherapists and dietitians). Through this plan, Medicare can help cover the costs of some allied health visits each calendar year. 

Using telehealth for appointments

Telehealth appointments by phone or video call can reduce how often you need to travel. The health professional you have an appointment with does not need to be in the same town, or even in the same state or territory as you.

Telehealth is now widely used for cancer follow-up appointments, especially for people in rural and regional areas.

Tips for telehealth appointments include:

• find a quiet, private place with a reliable phone or internet connection
• have a list of questions ready
• ask someone you trust to join you if it helps
• ask for a written summary of what was discussed.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, connection to Country, family, community and culture is at the heart of healing, wellbeing and recovery after cancer.

Some hospitals and health services have Aboriginal health workers or liaison officers. They can support you, help you talk with your healthcare team, and make sure your cultural, family and community needs are respected. If your hospital or clinic doesn’t have one, ask if they can arrange a phone or video call with an Aboriginal health worker who can support you.

You may find it helpful to talk about your cultural needs for your after-cancer care with your health team. This might include having family with you, needing time for cultural obligations, or asking for a different doctor if you don’t feel safe or respected.

If you receive care through an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO), they can work alongside your hospital and specialist team to coordinate your ongoing care, support your wellbeing and help you access local services.

If there is not an ACCHO near you, you can call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 and ask a qualified professional to connect you with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services or professionals who can support you by phone or telehealth.

Questions to ask your health professionals

• What ongoing or late side effects should I watch out for?
• How often will I need follow-up appointments, scans or tests? Where will these be done?
• Which appointments can be done by telehealth?
• Who do I contact if I have symptoms or concerns between appointments?
• What support services are available for me and my family in my area?
• Can you refer me to allied health professionals in my area?
• How do I access a chronic condition management plan?
• Can I speak with an Aboriginal health worker?