Your Surgeon Wants to See You. Most Survivors Never Come Back.
ONE CLEAR THING: National Cancer Survivors Month — June
On Human Context — The Musings of an Oncologist | Reflections on medicine, meaning, resilience, and the lives we carry forward…
Here is one clear thing many cancer survivors don’t know:
After treatment ends, most patients stay connected to their oncologist — but quietly stop seeing their surgeon. Life moves on. Treatment is over. It feels done.
It is not done.
Your surgeon needs to see you after treatment — not because something is wrong, but because they are watching for things your oncologist cannot always see: how the surgical site is healing, whether a reconstruction is holding, and early signs of local recurrence right where they operated.
Here is what that follow-up schedule typically looks like:
Approximately 4-6 weeks after surgery, 3 months, 6 months, then annually — for up to 5 years, or as long as your specific cancer guidelines recommend - sometimes it’s shorter overall. Do not stop abruptly.
That is not a lot of appointments. But skipping them is a gap in your care that no one else is filling. Keeping any appointment, may require some preparation on your part though. See this article for a few ideas.
We understand that missing those visits doesn’t mean you aren’t grateful or aren’t paying attention. It usually means no one told you it still mattered.
It matters.
If you have finished cancer treatment and have not been back to your surgeon — call and schedule that visit this week. Not next month. This week. You owe it to yourself to at least ask one of your doctors -
“it’s been [time frame] since surgery, can I (or do I need to) schedule a follow-up?
You survived. Now let your full team help you stay that way.
June is National Cancer Survivors Month. This one is for you.
The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, establish a physician-patient relationship, or replace the guidance of your treating physician, oncology team, VA provider, VSO, or attorney. Please consult a qualified professional on your team for advice specific to your situation.
Until next time — live, laugh, and love on purpose.
Your family-friendly cancer doctor,
Queen
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