The Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic at University of Minnesota Physicians Masonic Cancer Clinic brings together medical specialists from multiple disciplines to provide life-long health care to survivors of childhood and young adult cancers.
Patients with previous treatment for a childhood or young adult cancer have health care needs that often differ from those of the general population. The physicians at the Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic are experts in the long-term effects of cancer therapy. Cancer survivors have access to University of Minnesota Physicians specialists with advanced knowledge and experience in the treatment of childhood cancer and the long-term effects of this treatment.
What Is Long-Term Follow-Up?
Long-term follow-up is a specialized form of ongoing health care that includes screening for delayed complications of therapy, education of the patient and family about possible long-term effects, and monitoring of health care needs based on risk factors associated with an individual's prior cancer treatment.
Who Should Consider Long-Term Follow-Up Care?
Long-term follow-up care is for individuals who are five years or more from their diagnosis of a childhood or young adult cancer or at least three years from a blood or marrow stem cell transplant. Increasing numbers of children and young adults are becoming cancer survivors every day. Despite being free of cancer, many experience one or more health problems related to their prior therapy. Survivors may have unique health care issues that can be identified and addressed early through a visit to the Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic.
Care for childhood and young adult cancer survivors should include life-long follow-up by both a childhood cancer specialist and a primary doctor. It is important for patients and their health care providers to know the details of prior cancer treatment. The Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic provides a review of each patient's previous cancer therapy as well as screening for long-term effects based upon the specifics of this treatment, health habits, and other factors that might influence risk of long-term health issues. Survivors of childhood and young adult cancers may experience some health problems at a younger age than might typically be expected in a general medical practice. The clinic provides education for both patients and their doctors about these possible outcomes.
To Learn More
The Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic is available to all survivors of childhood and young adult cancers, no matter what age, what diagnosis, or where they received their past treatment. To learn more about the clinic or schedule an appointment, review the Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic profile.
