Things to Consider About Follow-Up Care after Cancer Treatment

You have got your cancer treatment done. But now what? After your treatment, you need to take proper follow-up care that includes regular medical checkups. Even follow-up care involves endoscopy, imaging procedures, lab tests, and blood tests.

You must go for regular follow-up checkups to find out about health changes. Follow-up care aims to find metastasis (spreading of cancer in other body parts) or recurrence (return of cancer). With regular follow-up care, specialists help patients to prevent the formation of other types of cancers. 

These checkups also help in addressing ongoing health issues due to cancer treatment. Therefore all cancer survivors need to indulge in follow-up care at the best cancer hospital in Bhubaneswar.

Things to Know About Regular Follow-up Care

Here are some important things you should know about follow-up care procedures: 

1. Ask for a Follow-Up Care Plan:

After completing your cancer treatment, you need to ask your cancer specialist for a regular follow-up care plan at the same hospital. The doctor would offer you a custom plan as per your cancer type and its stage, along with your overall condition. 

Generally, the follow-up care plan consists of the number of hospital visits, medical tests, and types of examinations. The doctor also asks about your preferences before setting up a follow-up care plan for you.

2. Report the Signs and Symptoms to Your Doctor: 

You never have to ignore any signs and symptoms after treatment. Always report those signs to the doctor. 

Some common signs that you may experience are:

• Swelling or lumps
• Pain at the cancer site
• Weight gain, fatigue, weight loss, or appetite loss
• Depression and anxiety
• Hard to treat cough and fever

No matter what symptom you experience, you need to take advice from your cancer specialist before starting any health supplements or medication. 

3. Cooperate With Your Cancer Specialist:

You need to cooperate with your cancer specialist while maintaining a cancer-free and healthy life. During the follow-up care, you need to follow the doctor’s guidelines. Follow-up care is vital for patients for returning to their best health condition. 

You need to ask the doctor questions related to health care at home. And, follow the doctor’s advice. If there is a need, your doctor may also advise you to consider other specialists.

4. Take Good Care of Your Body: 

After the physical and emotional stress of cancer treatment, your body is in the recovery stage. So, it is crucial to take good care of yourself to lead a healthy life. You need to quit smoking, as it can make cancer recur. Limit or avoid alcohol consumption. 

Have whole grains, protein, fresh fruits, and vegetables regularly. You also need to exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes every day. This will help in reducing depression and anxiety.

5. Management of Cancer Treatment’s Side Effects:

In many cases, several cancer treatments like radiation therapy and chemotherapy often have side effects. Some side effects of cancer treatment continue to appear even after you get rid of the cancer. So, make sure to consult a doctor to help you manage these side effects effectively. 

If a doctor finds certain side effects after the treatment, he may advise undergoing certain tests. Some of these tests include electrocardiograms, lung function tests, blood tests, thyroid function tests, CT scans, and mammography.

Conclusion

Follow-up care after the treatment of cancer can improve the general well-being of a patient. Patients need to understand each aspect of the follow-up procedure and get it done in the Top Hospital in Bhubaneswar. Furthermore, the patient needs to check the symptoms while taking care of their overall health.

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