Cancer Survivorship Programs and Clinics

Knowing what to expect and how to keep yourself healthy after cancer treatment is important. While some care after treatment may be provided by your cancer care team or your primary care provider, sometimes you may be referred to a survivorship clinic. Learn more about what to expect at a cancer survivorship program or clinic.

What is a cancer survivorship program or clinic?

A cancer survivorship program or clinic provides comprehensive care to cancer survivors. Survivorship programs are not just for follow-up care to check for cancer recurrence. The goal of this program or clinic is to promote a healthy lifestyle after cancer treatment and lower the risk of future cancers. To do this, they focus on:

• Preventing second cancers and recurrent cancers
• Screening for second cancers
• Monitoring for cancer recurrence or cancer spread
• Monitoring for and managing late and long-term side effects
• Addressing long-term problems post-treatment like finances, social concerns, and mental health
• Coordinating care between medical specialists and primary care providers (PCPs)

Who is part of the survivorship care team?

Your survivorship care team may include:

• Doctors
• Nurse practitioners (NPs) or physician assistants/associates (PAs)
• Nurses
• Patient navigators
• Medical assistants (MAs)
• Social workers

It also may include specialties like nutrition, palliative care, cancer rehab, genetic counseling, and psychosocial care.  What services are offered will depend on your clinic.

Your PCP will also partner with your survivorship care team and cancer care team to manage your ongoing care.

What to expect at your survivorship visit

When you see your survivorship care team for a visit, you may have:

• Blood work or lab tests
• Imaging studies to check for the cancer coming back
• Screening tests to check for other cancers
• A physical exam

What happens at your visit may vary based on your survivorship care plan, which is created for each person depending on their type of cancer. Your survivorship care plan includes follow-up care details and usually includes your treatment summary, which will also help guide your follow-up care. During your visit, your team will review your survivorship care plan and update it if needed.

Your survivorship care team will help you manage any late or long-term effects from your cancer treatment. They will also talk with you about how to stay healthy and prevent new problems. This may include referrals to programs that can help you eat healthy, quit smoking, or be more physically active. If you are having trouble coping, they can connect you with emotional and mental health support. Your team will also share your test results and visit summaries with your PCP so they stay informed about your care.

How often should I see my survivorship care team?

How often you see your survivorship care team depends on the follow-up guidelines for your specific cancer type, the treatments you had, and your overall health. At first, you will have visits more often. For example, every 3-6 months for the first few years. As time goes on, these visits usually become less frequent, and eventually, your PCP may take over all your regular medical care. You will work with your team to decide what is best for you.

How to choose a survivorship clinic

Most of the time, your cancer care team will refer you to a survivorship clinic linked to your cancer center. If your cancer center does not offer a survivorship clinic, they may refer you to another facility that does. If there is not one near you, your care may be provided by your cancer care team or PCP.

When you are looking for a reputable survivorship program, look for ones that are accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) or are NCI-designated Cancer Centers. This means the program meets high-quality care standards.

Sometimes, cancer survivorship programs may have different clinics based on cancer types. For example, there may be a specific clinic for breast cancer, blood cancers, or childhood cancers. These may not be available at every cancer center, so you may have to travel to one if you are looking for a certain cancer-type program.