After Treatment

After treatment for EFT ends, talk with your child’s doctor about developing a follow-up care plan. This plan may include regular physical examinations and/or medical tests to monitor your child’s recovery for the coming months and years. All children treated for cancer, including EFT, should have life-long, follow-up care.

Follow-up care includes bone scans (a small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein where it collects in areas of the bone and is detected by a scanner), CT scans, MRI, and x-rays.

Children treated with chemotherapy will need to be monitored for potential problems with their sexual development and fertility (ability to have children). Your child may need to be referred to an endocrinologist (a doctor who specializes in problems with glands and the endocrine system) for evaluation in these areas.

Based on the type of treatment the child received, the doctor will determine what examinations and tests are needed to check for long-term side effects and the possibility of secondary cancers. Your child’s doctor can recommend the necessary screening tests. Follow-up care should also address the child’s quality of life, including any developmental or emotional concerns. Learn more about childhood cancer survivorship.

The child’s family is encourage to organize and keep a record of the child’s medical information so that as the child enters adulthood, he or she has a clear, written history of the diagnosis and the details of the treatment given. The doctor’s office can help you compile this, and it should include recommendations from the doctor about the schedule for follow-up care. This information will be valuable to doctors who care for your child during his or her lifetime.

Children who have had cancer can also enhance the quality of their future by following established guidelines for good health into and through adulthood, including not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and participating in regular physical activity. Talk with the doctor about developing a plan that is best for your child’s needs.

Find out more about common terms used after cancer treatment is complete.