Life After Treatment: What Is a Survivorship Care Plan?

Q: What happens after active treatment ends?

Most patients move into a follow-up or surveillance phase, involving periodic check-ups, scans, or blood tests to monitor for recurrence and manage any lasting effects of treatment. This phase is a distinct part of cancer care, not simply “being done.”

Q: What is a survivorship care plan?

It's a summary document, ideally provided by your oncology team, outlining the treatment you received, the follow-up schedule and tests needed, potential long-term effects to watch for, and recommendations for ongoing health maintenance. Not every centre provides this formally — it's reasonable to ask your oncology team for one.

Q: What does follow-up monitoring typically involve?

This varies by cancer type but often includes periodic physical exams, imaging (like scans), and blood tests, at intervals that are usually more frequent in the first few years after treatment and gradually space out over time if all remains well.

Q: What long-term effects should survivors watch for?

Depending on the specific treatment received, long-term effects can include fatigue, changes related to hormone therapy, heart or lung effects from certain chemotherapy drugs or radiation, and psychological effects like anxiety. Your survivorship plan should outline what's relevant to your specific treatment history.

Q: Who manages my care after treatment — my oncologist or my regular doctor?

This varies by healthcare system and individual arrangement — some patients continue with their oncology team for follow-up, others transition primarily to their general physician with periodic oncology check-ins. Clarify this transition plan directly with your oncology team so you know who to contact for what.

Q: How long does follow-up typically continue?

This depends significantly on cancer type and individual risk factors — some follow-up continues for five years, some longer, and some cancers require lifelong monitoring for certain effects. Ask your oncology team what timeline applies to your specific situation.