Will I need maintenance therapy?

Q: Will I need maintenance therapy?

A: Your doctor may advise that you receive on-going medication after your original treatment ends. This is called maintenance therapy. It helps keep certain cancers in remission and supports the continued effectiveness of your original treatment.

Whether you will have maintenance therapy or not depends upon the type of cancer you had and how it was treated. You may receive a long-standing medication or one that is undergoing clinical trials. Talk with your health care team about what type of posttreatment therapy you'll be on, the schedule you'll need to follow, and any possible side effects you should watch for.

Many patients do not receive maintenance therapy after completion of initial treatment. This can be a difficult time emotionally because questions come to your mind such as "If I don't receive any more treatment, will the cancer come back?" Discuss your feelings with your health care team. These are normal feelings and your health care team can help get you through this time of transition.
--Bernice Crook, RN, OCN

Here are some questions to ask about posttreatment care.