In general, people return to the doctor for follow-up appointments every 3 to 4 months during the first 2 to 3 years after treatment, and once or twice a year after that. At these visits, you may have a physical exam along with blood tests and other necessary tests and procedures.
How often should you see your oncologist after treatment?
The American Society of Clinical Oncology, for example, recommends an exam by a doctor every 3 to 6 months for 3 years after diagnosis, then every 6 to 12 months for the next 2 years, and then every year.
How long does it take to fully recover from cancer?
Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again. Read the resource Managing Cognitive Changes: Information for Cancer Survivors for more information about managing chemo brain.
Do you ever recover from cancer treatment?
When treatment ends, you may expect life to return to the way it was before you were diagnosed with cancer. But it can take time to recover. You may have permanent scars on your body, or you may not be able to do some things you once did easily. Or you may even have emotional scars from going through so much.
How do you know cancer is gone after treatment?
How Do You Know Youre in Remission? Tests look for cancer cells in your blood. Scans like X-rays and MRIs show if your tumor is smaller or if its gone after surgery and isnt growing back. To qualify as remission, your tumor either doesnt grow back or stays the same size for a month after you finish treatments.
How long is immune system compromised after chemo?
Now, new research suggests that the effects of chemotherapy can compromise part of the immune system for up to nine months after treatment, leaving patients vulnerable to infections – at least when it comes to early-stage breast cancer patients whove been treated with a certain type of chemotherapy.
What should I ask my oncologist after treatment?
You may want to ask your doctor some of the following questions:How long will it take for me to get better and feel more like myself?What kind of care should I expect after my treatment?What long-term health issues can I expect as a result of my cancer and its treatment?What is the chance that my cancer will return?More items •5 Nov 2019
What is the average chemo treatments?
Most cycles range from 2 to 6 weeks. The number of treatment doses scheduled within each cycle also depends on the prescribed chemotherapy. For example, each cycle may contain only 1 dose on the first day. Or, a cycle may contain more than 1 dose given each week or each day.
Is 4 rounds of chemo a lot?
During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.