Life After Cancer Treatment
The treatment portion of your cancer journey is over...now what?
Cancer is an emotion-filled journey from start to finish. And for many, those feelings persist long after treatment ends. Our team is here for you and your loved ones to offer the resources and support you need to navigate life post-treatment.
Ask a Cancer Support Specialist
Your survivorship care plan and survivorship clinic visit
After completing your cancer treatment, you will have fewer visits with your cancer care team. To help ease this transition, your Oncologist or a Nurse Practitioner will create a personalized Survivorship Care Plan and meet with you to go over it. As a team, you will discuss the best ways to approach survivorship, and it will all be outlined for you to take home in your Survivorship Care Plan.
Your Survivorship Care Plan visit discussion will include:
- Important information about your cancer diagnosis
- A summary of the treatment you received at our facility
- A suggested follow-up schedule with your physicians
- Referrals and recommendations for future care to improve your physical and mental quality of life
Currently, a Survivorship Clinic is available at Henry Ford Hospital, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, Henry Ford Medical Center - Shelby Township and Henry Ford Cancer - Brownstown. If you are receiving care at a different location, discuss with your cancer care team the next steps for receiving your Survivorship Care Plan.
Colleen's Corner: Local and National Resources
Online Resources
These websites have comprehensive information and resources for survivors about life after cancer:
- The National Cancer Institute
- American Cancer Society
- The Cancer Survivors Network is a community of survivors, family, and friends whose lives have been affected by cancer. Connect with them through personal pages, message boards or chat rooms.
- Springboard Beyond Cancer is a web tool that makes health information, skills, and support available to those whose lives are affected by cancer. Through different “decks” of information, you can access questions and topics specific to your needs during survivorship.
- Cancer.net
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Livestrong
Other Resources
- The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) offers an interactive survivorship handbook that outlines issues survivors may face, information on supportive services, with space to take notes and ideas for questions to ask providers.
- Sexuality after cancer — The Henry Ford Sexual Health Clinic helps patients with sexual problems or concerns after cancer.