Taking Charge of Your Health: A Guide to Medical Follow-up for Young Adults Who Had Cancer in Childhood

FIVE WAYS TO TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH

Regular medical check-ups and good health habits are important in protecting your health. Since you received treatment for childhood cancer, you should take charge of your health and make certain that your regular medical follow-up includes tests which check for late effects as well as those that protect your health. This means following a few simple guidelines:

• see your doctor once each year for a complete physical examination;
• have a complete blood count performed every year;
• have a urinalysis done each year;
• get recommended immunizations;
• have recommended screening tests as other adults.

Other medical test also may be needed depending upon the treatment you received. Details of your past disease and treatment plus recommendations for medical follow-up are described on your medical summary. The follow-up guidelines table summarizes childhood cancer therapies, potential late effects and recommended follow-up. Keep these materials with your other important documents, show them to your doctor, and…take charge of your health!