- Attend annual follow-up examinations to closely detect and monitor early problems that may be due to having had cancer. Participating in follow-up examinations will benefit your health and also help further develop medical science.
- Be aware of and staying away from environmental factors that are hazardous to healthy living like smoking and sun exposure.
- Stay well-informed about post-cancer medicines that need to be administered.
- Reduce stress by being aware of the major sources of stress in your life and learning management techniques that work well for you such as exercise, visualization or guided imagery, relaxation breathing, cognitive adjustments, and meditation.
- Be aware of your body and any changes that occur. Late effects sometimes do not appear until two to five years into survivorship, so being aware of changes and talking to medical professionals will be advantageous in treating late effects.
- Become more responsible for your health as you enter adulthood. Prior to leaving home, arrange to obtain a medical history that summarizes the type, stage and location of cancer, the surgical procedures, drugs, complications, tests results that monitored side effects and any special concerns for medical follow up. This information is necessary for any future medical needs and should be updated by each member of your medical team.
Arrange a tour of the hospital so you can see the tools and techniques used during treatment.
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