Lung Cancer Canada

Survivorship

Lung cancer recurrence is most common within the five years following treatment. That’s why regular follow-up is necessary during this period. 

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Survivorship

After your treatment is completed, your healthcare team will want to continue to monitor you closely. It is critical to attend your follow-up appointments. During these visits, your doctor will ask if you experience any symptoms and may examine you. Based on that information, they may order lab and imaging tests to check for any signs of cancer coming back or treatment side effects. While some side effects are short-lived, others may persist or even emerge after treatment has ended. It’s important that your doctor follows up with you and stays vigilant about any potential issues.

Follow-up visits

Lung cancer recurrence is most common within the five years following treatment. That’s why regular follow-up is necessary during this period. Usually, follow-up visits are scheduled every three months for the initial years. If there are no signs of cancer coming back, these visits may decrease in frequency—shifting to every six months for the next few years and eventually (five years following treatment) to once a year. However, your follow-up schedule may vary based on your individual circumstances.

Keep records

Always stay attentive to any changes in your body. If you experience any new symptoms or changes in your current ones, inform your doctor immediately. Also, keep copies of your medical records, as you may need them if you ever see a new physician. Please note that obtaining copies of your medical records isn’t always straightforward and may come at a cost.

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