Life After Cancer

Congratulations! You have completed cancer treatment and have a new outlook on life. At MD Anderson, we know that being a cancer survivor brings its own set of challenges that affect every aspect of your life. It's our goal to make life after cancer the best it can be, and we have the resources to help get you there.

Follow-up care after cancer treatment

Follow-up care plays a vital role in your life after cancer. It includes regular check-ups, monitoring for recurrence and managing any lasting effects of treatment. Our team can help you build a survivorship plan to make the most out of life.

Learn about follow-up care after cancer treatment

The Proton Therapy Center is one of many convenient MD Anderson locations.

Long-term physical effects

Some side effects of cancer and its treatments can last for months or even years after treatment ends. Understanding these possible long-term effects can help you recognize symptoms early and take steps to manage them with your health care team’s support. Find out what to expect and how to manage your symptoms.

Learn more about side effects

Social & emotional impacts of cancer

Psychological and emotional challenges are common after cancer, and they can sometimes surface long after treatment has ended. The good news is that help is available. Whether it’s through therapy, support groups, online communities, or local resources, you can find tools and people to help you cope and heal.

Learn more about the social and emotional impacts of cancer

Legal & financial impacts of cancer

Cancer can bring unexpected legal and financial challenges. It’s important to know your rights at work, understand care costs, explore financial support and prepare legal documents to make your wishes known about medical treatment.

Learn more about the legal and financial impacts of cancer

Resources

Support groups

Support groups provide patients and family a caring atmosphere.

Survivorship clinics

Our survivorship clinics are here to help you develop a plan for your ongoing health care.

myCancerConnection

You are not alone. Connect with fellow survivors who share your diagnosis.

Survivorship Week

A celebration of cancer survivors with support, education and resources for life after cancer.

Cancerversaries: How and why cancer...

If you’re a cancer survivor, you may have heard the term ‘cancerversary.’ A combination of the words ‘cancer’ and ‘anniversary,’ a cancerversary is a day of celebration for someone who has experienced cancer. “Celebration dates are personal to every individual and what they feel was the most meaningful event for them,” says senior social work counselor Tabeen Urbach. “Celebrations can occur on the day they were first diagnosed, the day...

Ovarian cancer survivor, employee:...

I work in Philanthropy at MD Anderson, and I’m a cancer survivor. This means I can say I’ve been both an employee and a patient at the greatest cancer hospital in the world. In 2018, I was diagnosed with a type of ovarian cancer called dysgerminoma. I was 32 years old, so this was a rare cancer for someone my age. I found out about my cancer diagnosis through my annual well-woman exam. My normal gynecologist was pushing down on my...

Questions to ask your doctor when...

At MD Anderson, you’re considered a survivor from the day of your cancer diagnosis. And after you’ve completed primary cancer treatment, you transition to survivorship. Essentially, this is your life after cancer. And it includes specialized survivorship care. Survivorship care is focused on maximizing your health and well-being after cancer. This includes assessing for any late cancer recurrence as well as managing and reducing late...