By Emily Browne, Director, Transition Oncology Program, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
When I was a senior in high school, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. During my treatment, I received wonderful care from several nurse practitioners. Because of my experience, I am now a nurse practitioner and director of the Transition Oncology Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This gives me unique insights into the needs of childhood cancer survivors.
Because of the treatment I had, I know I have a higher chance of getting certain health problems later in life, including cancer. That is why I believe so strongly in having screening tests. These tests include mammograms for breast cancer, Pap smears for cervical cancer, and colonoscopies for colon cancer. These tests can help find cancer early—sometimes even before you notice symptoms. And when cancer is found early, it is often easier to treat.
Depending on the treatment you had, you may need to have certain cancer screenings earlier than other people. Every survivor is different.
Use your survivorship care plan
One of the best tools you have to learn about the tests you need is your survivorship care plan. This plan has details about your past treatment, what screenings you need, and when you should have them. The plan is something you can share with your health care provider to help guide your care.
If you do not have one, ask your survivorship care team at your treatment center about how to get it. You can also use tools like Passport for Care to help you build a survivorship plan if you know the treatment you had.
Speak up for yourself
My primary care provider addresses routine cancer screenings, but I usually have to speak up and remind her when I am due for a screening echocardiogram. I keep a list in my phone of my most recent survivorship screenings and when the next one is due.
It is important to keep track of your health and speak up if something does not feel right. You know your body best. Working with your health care team and staying on top of screenings can help you stay healthy and catch problems early.
Taking care of your health today is one of the best ways to protect your tomorrow. Talk to your health care team about the screening tests you need.