Follow-up care after treatment
What monitoring typically looks like afterward
The short version
Follow-up care after treatment usually includes regular visits, physical exams, and imaging on a schedule your care team sets, to watch for recurrence and manage any lasting effects of treatment.
Finishing active treatment is a major milestone, but care doesn't stop there. Follow-up care typically includes regular check-ins, physical exams, and imaging like mammograms, on a schedule your care team sets based on your specific diagnosis and treatments.
Most people who finish treatment do not have a recurrence. Follow-up care is about monitoring and support, not an expectation that something will go wrong.
Signs worth mentioning between visits
New lumps, unusual pain, or other new symptoms are worth discussing with your care team promptly rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit.
Questions you may want to ask
What does my follow-up schedule look like?
What symptoms should prompt me to call between visits?
Which provider should I see for follow-up — my oncologist, primary care, or both?