Topics
6.1.1 What Happens Now?
6.1.2 Follow-Up Care
6.1.3 Keeping Track of Health
6.1.4 Questions to Ask at a Follow-Up Visit
Chapter 6: Learning Activity
Learning Objectives
➤ Describe what to expect in life after treatment.
➤ Explain what happens during follow-up care.
➤ List health information to keep track of.
6.1.1 What Happens Now?
After your breast cancer treatment, you might find yourself asking, “What happens now?” (Canadian Cancer Society, 2018b). Your view of life might have changed, including your beliefs about life, how you handle situations, and what is important to you. Reflecting on and processing these changes can help you move forward with your life.
No one can predict how your life will go after breast cancer treatment (Canadian Cancer Society, 2018b). Yearly screenings or other testing are a given, but the rest is up to you and how you want your life to be.
You might take time to get used to this new stage of your life and make decisions about it (Canadian Cancer Society, 2018b). During your breast cancer experience, you dedicated most of your time to your treatment plan and all of the appointments, surgeries, and healing that went with it. However, now you have all the time in the world to do things at your own pace and ease yourself into your new normal.
6.1.2 Follow-Up Care
Follow-up care is the stage after breast cancer treatment where your healthcare team will monitor for side effects and abnormalities (Lymphedema Working Group, 2012). Depending on your healthcare team’s recommendation, you might go in for check-ups multiple times during your first year post-treatment. If your treatment did not involve breast removal (e.g., radical mastectomy), then you will receive a mammogram each year.
Continuing to do breast self-examinations is important to monitor for any changes to your breasts; your healthcare provider will also complete a clinical breast exam at your check-ups for the same reason (Lymphedema Working Group, 2012).
During follow-up check-ups, do not be afraid to ask questions about your treatment (Lymphedema Working Group, 2012). For example, you can ask your healthcare provider for their opinion on other treatment methods, such as complementary and alternative medicine.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience symptoms such as a lump in your breast, swelling in your arms, nausea, tiredness, coughing, or anything else that is not normal for you (Lymphedema Working Group, 2012).
6.1.3 Keeping Track of Health
Keeping track of your health is important for quickly identifying potential problems (Canadian Cancer Society, 2018b). Your healthcare team can use these records, or you can keep them for your own peace of mind.
Some people keep written and physical copies of their health documents, while others create electronic versions (Canadian Cancer Society, 2018b). Choose whichever form is most comfortable for you.
Information you can gather can include:
- information about your cancer (e.g., type and stage),
- your cancer treatment plan,
- side effects (short and long term),
- your schedule for check-ups and follow-up testing,
- and support services (Canadian Cancer Society, 2018b).
6.1.4 Questions to Ask at a Follow-Up Visit
- Will I need to continue any treatments?
- What are signs that I should be concerned about?
- I am worried that the cancer is going to come back, what is the likelihood that it will come back?
- Should I keep a logbook of my health?
- Who should I contact if I have any concerns?
- How long should I experience side effects from my treatments?
- When can I expect to get back into all the activities I did before my treatment? (Lymphedema Working Group, 2012)
