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End of Treatment and Follow-up Care

Congratulations! Your child has made it through all those seemingly endless tests and therapy rounds! But even though the most difficult part of the journey may be over, due to the treatments your child has received, good follow-up care is necessary for long term health and longevity. Learning about the late effects of cancer therapy and how to maintain your son or daughter's physical and emotional wellbeing are important after the end of treatment.

What can you do to keep on track with your health care after the end of treatment?

The first place to start: becoming familiar with the Long Term Follow-up Guidelines for Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer. These guidelines were developed by the Children's Oncology Group, and can be used to guide your conversations with your treatment team concerning your follow up care.

Survivors of Wilms require close follow-up care, because side effects from chemotherapy and radiation may develop months or years after treatment. Generally, these visits occur every 3 months for the first 2 years, every 6 months for the third and fourth year, then once yearly thereafter. The exact schedule may change based on particular concerns with your child. Long-term follow-up (five or more years post-therapy) visits should be scheduled every year in a late-effects clinic.

Written and reviewed by: Susanne Ragg, MD, PhD; Deannie Lee, MD, PhD; Mary M Davis MD; James Hill, MD; Mercy Odueyungbo, B.S.; Ann Haddix, RN, MSN, CPNP; Jada Paine, MS; Julie Haydon, BS; Michelle Lucke, MPH; Elaine Skopelja, MALS, AHIP; Kellie Kaneshiro, AMLS, AHIP. Amber McMahon, B.S. Date last reviewed: August 2006.