After Treatment and Survivorship Care
After cancer treatment, it’s important for patients and their families to feel like they have a clear plan of what’s next, including support and information about living well and adjusting to new circumstances.
Survivorship is generally considered to be the phase in a person’s life after completion of initial cancer treatment. Living with cancer and being a cancer survivor is a very individual thing. People who are living with cancer or have a cancer experience will find their own way to describe their situation and this can change over time. People will often identify with what best suits them at the time, based on where they are in their cancer journey.
At the end of treatment, it’s important to have information about your next appointments, blood tests and scans. We will provide you with this information in the last few days of your treatment. Your Oncologist and Nurse will also talk to you about any possible symptoms or side effects. Some treatments can keep working for several weeks after the last treatment. We will make a plan with you based on your individual needs.
Keeping a diary and writing down questions as you think of them can be helpful. Some useful questions to ask can be:
Keeping in touch with your GP and managing other health problems or chronic illnesses can make a difference in your recovery.
The Physical, Psychosocial and Financial impact of cancer and its treatment can last for many years:
There is a range of physical, emotional, social and financial challenges people face after cancer treatment, we encourage you to speak to your local care team to make a plan which best suits you.
Things you might like to talk about include:
There is also a range of online and print resources available for people and their families:
The Cancer Council Australia has produced a booklet called ‘Living Well After Cancer, A guide for people with cancer, their families and friends’. The booklet is available in each of our clinics and online.
WeCan is an Australian website for supportive care in cancer, there is a range of information about common concerns faced by people affected by cancer.
The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre has a range of online and printable resources we recommend, including a short film ‘Just Take it Day to Day’ about being a cancer survivor.
To see what’s happening in your local area see our Community Noticeboard or have a look at the activities in your local cancer centre at your next visit.
Your local Cancer Council Tasmania Centre also runs a range of support groups, workshops and information sessions, including private one on one support.
Healthy Eating plays an important role in cancer prevention and in living well after a cancer diagnosis, Cancer Council Australia has a helpful ‘Eat for Health’ booklet which is a good place to start. Eat Well Tasmania is a state-wide non-government organisation which champions healthy eating.
Exercise is an essential part of self-care and a healthy lifestyle, there is good evidence to show exercise helps with fatigue management, sleep and mood. There are a range of ways to access information about exercise to meet your individual needs;
It’s never too late to Quit Smoking, if you or someone you know would like to give it a go call 13 78 48 or visit Quit Tasmania
Reducing or avoiding Alcohol can improve general wellness, the Tasmania Department of Health offers online resources, or you can talk to your GP about ways to reduce alcohol use.
Other pages on our site:
A guide for people with cancer, their families and friends. Produced by the Cancer Council of Australia.
Visit this linkA range of resources about being a cancer survivor
Visit this linkCall us 1300 667 674