en cancer comes back after treatment. This doesn’t mean the treatment was wrong or didn’t work, it just means that a very small amount of undetectable cells may have remained and over time, grew into detectable cancer.
Like most things in life, consistency is key when it comes to living with lung cancer. When initial treatment is complete, your doctor might have you come in for annual checkups or scans. Sticking to your monitoring plan and prioritizing your care is very important, especially when it comes to identifying a recurrence. While your care, up to and immediately following surgery, may have been managed by a surgeon, it is important to ask for a referral to a medical oncologist to ensure proper long-term monitoring. A medical oncologist is critical to understanding the complete picture of your cancer care and providing guidance on next steps.
Your doctor may prescribe adjuvant therapy after surgery to help reduce the risk of your cancer coming back. Be sure to continue your treatment plan through the entire recommended duration to help lower the chance of your lung cancer coming back.
Step 7: Find Support and Resources
Early-stage lung cancer can bring on several emotions and worries, including concerns of recurrence. And while every lung cancer journey is different, most people can benefit from a little extra support, guidance and the right resources. Finding information from a community who understands what you’re going through can help you and your loved ones feel heard, informed and inspired.