Cancer Health Center

Care After Cancer Treatment

Symptoms Worth Reporting

During the follow-up period, it's crucial for survivors to tell their doctors about any physical and emotional changes, McCabe says. According to the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, cancer survivors should report the following:

• Any symptoms that create concern that cancer has come back
• Pain, especially pain that does not go away or occurs in the same place
• Lumps, bumps, or swelling
• Unusual bleeding, rashes, or bruises
• Fever or cough that doesn't go away
• Physical problems that are troublesome or affect daily function, such as fatigue, weight gain or unexplained weight loss, difficulty sleeping, or loss of sex drive
• Emotional problems, such as anxiety or depression
• Other medicines being used, as well as vitamins, herbs, and complementary or alternative treatments

"Patients shouldn't place all responsibility on follow-up visits to identify recurrences, new cancers, or complications of treatment. In fact, patients are often the first ones to notice that something is wrong. They must act, McCabe says, especially if they're worried that the problem could be cancer-related. "Between visits, if there's something that causes you concern, either a psychological problem or a physical problem, you should call and make an appointment," she says. "That isn't something to leave until the next routine checkup."