iOnco

Survivors Guide

Finishing treatment is not the end of the cancer journey — it's the beginning of a different chapter. Surveillance schedules, late effects, emotional recovery, and rebuilding life.

50M+

Cancer survivors worldwide

~68%

5-year survival (all cancers)

6

Cancer types with surveillance guides

8

Late effects covered

For Informational Purposes Only

Content on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Life After Treatment Ends

The last infusion or radiation session often brings a confusing mix of relief, fear, and loss of the routine that treatment provided.

Completion anxiety is real — and almost universal

Most patients expect to feel purely happy when treatment ends. Instead, many feel anxious, lost, or abandoned. During treatment, you saw your oncology team regularly. Now, you're on your own. This is normal. The transition from patient to survivor is a psychological adjustment — give yourself time and seek support if the anxiety is persistent.

Your Treatment Summary — Don't Leave Without It

Ask your oncologist for a formal Survivorship Care Plan

A survivorship care plan documents: every treatment you received (drugs, doses, cumulative doses, radiation fields), your surveillance schedule, late effects to watch for, and recommended lifestyle changes. Without this, your GP and future doctors may not know what to look for.
  • Request a full treatment summary — drug names, doses, radiation fields
  • Ask specifically: 'What late effects should I watch for given my treatment?'
  • Get your discharge summary sent to your GP/primary care doctor
  • Know your surveillance schedule — when is your next scan, blood test, scope?
  • Know the name and number of who to call if you develop new symptoms between scheduled appointments
  • Keep copies of all pathology reports, scan reports, and operative notes

Cancer-Specific Surveillance Schedules

Click your cancer type to see the recommended follow-up schedule.

New symptoms during surveillance — when to act immediately

Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment if you develop: unexplained new pain (especially bone pain), new neurological symptoms, breathlessness, haemoptysis, unexplained weight loss >5% in one month, a new lump, or any symptom that significantly changes from your baseline. Rising tumour markers (CEA, CA-125, PSA) without symptoms still warrant prompt contact with your team.