What are the goals of a survivorship care plan?

A survivorship care plan can be used to help you: 

• Move your routine healthcare back to your main healthcare providers (like your primary care provider, dentist, gynecologist, or nurse practitioner) so you can get physicals, screenings, vaccines, and other preventive care

• Make sure that you follow-up with your healthcare providers as needed

• Make sure you are treated for physical and emotional side effects that are common after cancer care

• Know what to do to watch for a second cancer (a second new cancer) or recurring cancer (cancer that comes back after treatment)

• Make healthy life choices so you can handle or even prevent future health problems

• Find support after cancer care

Do I need a survivorship care plan?

Survivorship care plans are not required. But they can be very helpful as people adjust to life after cancer treatment. The plan can help you collect all the details about your cancer and the treatments you had. You can then refer to it, when needed. It's helpful for your loved ones, too.

It’s a record you can share with other healthcare providers who take care of you. It can help you know what to do to stay healthy after treatment. And it can tell you how to watch for future problems.

What’s in a survivorship care plan?

A survivorship care plan has a lot of details in it. It’s a record of your cancer care. It's also a map to help you in the weeks, months, and years ahead. The plan should list the kinds of care you need after treatment. It should also include who will be giving that care and how these providers can work together to help you. Here are some of the things the plan covers:

• Facts about your cancer, such as the type, the date it was found, and its stage, grade, and tumor markers

• Key diagnostic tests that were done and their results

• All types of treatment you had with the dates and places of treatment

• Types of medicine used

• Side effects, reactions, or complications you had with each treatment

• Details about any clinical trials you were part of

• Other care you had, such as seeing a nutritionist, physical therapist, or counselor

• Genetic testing done and the results, as well as whether you or family members may have genetic risk factors for cancer

• Contact information for all your cancer care providers and their specialties 

It will also outline the things you need to know moving forward, such as:

• Long-term and late treatment effects you have or may have later, such as heart or lung problems or fertility issues

• Any ongoing treatment you need, such as long-term medicines (their names, doses, and purpose)

• Your risk for recurring cancer or a second cancer, the symptoms you should watch for, and a schedule for screening tests

• Any follow-up visits and tests you need and when to have them

• List of symptoms or problems you need to report to your healthcare providers and how to reach them

• Referral for counseling, support groups, and other types of emotional help

• Contact details for all your follow-up healthcare providers

It may give tips to help you be healthy, such as: 

• Eating a healthy diet

• Getting exercise

• Getting to or staying at a healthy weight

Talking with your healthcare team 

Ask your healthcare providers if they can put together a survivorship care plan for you. Not all cancer care teams do this. But you can also make your own. Some good resources are:

• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Survivorship Care Plans

• CDC Cancer Survivorship Care Plans

• American Cancer Society Survivorship Care Plans

Talk with your healthcare team and ask for help with the details.