The short answer
Childhood cancer survivors need ongoing follow-up care to watch their health after treatment. Every survivor should have a treatment summary and a survivorship care plan. Some survivors are followed in clinics that specialize in long-term care.
There were nearly 496,000 childhood cancer survivors in the U.S. as of 2020.
Survivors need follow-up care to monitor their health after treatment ends.
Every survivor should have a treatment summary and a survivorship care plan.
Some survivors are followed at clinics that specialize in long-term follow-up care.
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The full explanation.
The simple version
After treatment ends, childhood cancer survivors need ongoing follow-up care to keep an eye on their health. As of 2020, there were nearly 496,000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States, and good follow-up care helps them stay healthy.
Two key documents
Every survivor should have two things:
- A treatment summary — a record of the cancer and the treatments received
- A survivorship care plan — a plan for follow-up, including a schedule of check-ups and tests and advice on staying healthy
Where follow-up happens
Some survivors are followed at clinics that specialize in long-term follow-up care for people who had childhood cancer. Others are followed by their regular care team using the survivorship care plan. Over time, care may shift from pediatric to adult providers.
Why it matters
Follow-up care helps find and manage late effects — health problems that can appear months or years after treatment — as early as possible. It also supports a survivor's overall health and well-being.
A treatment summary and survivorship care plan guide a survivor's future care.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸Why do childhood cancer survivors need follow-up care?
After treatment ends, survivors need follow-up care to monitor their health, catch any problems early, and manage late effects that can appear months or years later.
▸What is a treatment summary?
A treatment summary is a record of the cancer and the treatments a person received. Every survivor should have one to guide their future care.
▸What is a survivorship care plan?
A survivorship care plan is a plan for follow-up care after treatment. It typically includes a schedule of check-ups and tests and advice on staying healthy and watching for late effects.
▸Where do survivors get follow-up care?
Some survivors are followed at clinics that specialize in long-term follow-up for people who had childhood cancer. Others are followed by their regular care team using a survivorship care plan.
▸How many childhood cancer survivors are there?
As of 2020, there were nearly 496,000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States.
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