What should I ask my doctor when treatment ends?

When active cancer treatment ends, the National Cancer Institute suggests asking a set of questions that shift focus from treatment itself to follow-up care and long-term health. Start with the practical basics: how long it might take to feel more like yourself, which doctor or doctors you'll see going forward, and how often.

From there, ask what symptoms to watch for and what tests you'll need after treatment, since monitoring doesn't stop just because active treatment has. It's also worth asking about long-term health issues your specific treatment might cause, and what the chance is that your cancer could return.

Ask what records you should keep, and expect to receive a follow-up care plan along with a written treatment summary describing what treatment you had. If you don't receive these, it's reasonable to ask for them directly.

Finally, ask what you can do to stay as healthy as possible, and whether your doctor can suggest a support group. The transition out of active treatment has an emotional side as well as a medical one, and both are worth raising.