How often will I need follow-up appointments after treatment?

How often you need follow-up visits depends on your type of cancer, the treatment you had, and your own health. So the best step is to ask your care team directly. The National Cancer Institute lists this among the questions your follow-up care plan should answer: "Which doctor(s) should I see for my follow-up care? How often?"

Visits often start out close together and then spread out. In general, NCI says, people return every 3 to 4 months for the first 2 to 3 years after treatment, and once or twice a year after that. Your plan should also say which tests you need and how often, since not every visit involves the same testing.

You should get a written follow-up care plan that spells this out, along with a treatment summary that describes the treatment you had. Keep both on hand. They make it easier to share your history with a new doctor, and to track your own schedule.

If your plan isn't clear, ask your care team to walk through it with you. It is fair to do that before you leave your last treatment appointment.