A Complete Approach to After Cancer Treatment Survivorship
The After Cancer Treatment Survivorship team is committed to ensure that you recover to your fullest after your diagnosis. We understand that a cancer diagnosis is disruptive, and that you and your family are defining your “new normal.” At CHOC, we also want to make sure you’re equipped with resources and answers to questions about life after cancer.
We provide the following comprehensive services to our survivors:
Creating a Wellness Plan
- Guidance on how to define your “new normal”
- Diet and nutrition
- Exercise and other physical activity
- Coping with fatigue
- Managing stress and worry
- Communicating your cancer experience with family and friends
- Psychological and psychiatric care referral
- Support group and patient/family education sessions
Monitoring for Late Effects of Treatment
Most survivors of cancer will have at least one long-term side effect of their cancer or their cancer treatment. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may cause issues in different areas and we can help monitor:
- Heart
- Lungs
- Endocrine system (hormones)
- Bone growth and strength
- Hearing
- Mouth (teeth and gum) health
- Eyes
- Cognitive function, such as memory, processing and concentration changes
- Cancer recurrence or development of a second cancer
- Treatment with primary care and specialty care providers, including transition to a primary care provider when appropriate
Learn more about the late effects of cancer treatment.
Management of Physical Changes
- Integrative health therapy
- Nutrition services
- Prosthetic management
- Pain management
School Re-integration/Re-entry
- School personnel and peer education
- Evaluation of cognitive function
- Individual Education Programs (IEP)
- 504 Plan
Personalized Treatment Summary and Notebook
It can be overwhelming to transition to life after cancer. We recommend keeping an organized summary of your treatments, so that it can easily be shared with other doctors. The necessary information related to your survivorship includes:
- Type of cancer
- Type and dates of treatment provided
- Results of key laboratory reports and scans
- Side effects and major complications experienced
- The number and/or title of any clinical trial participation
- Name(s) and contact information for your cancer care provider
