After Treatment

As treatment for CML ends (such as after a transplant) or continues long-term (such as treatment with imatinib), talk with your doctor about developing a follow-up care plan. This plan may include regular physical examinations and/or medical tests to monitor your recovery for the coming months and years.

People treated for CML and in remission should receive lifelong follow-up examinations on a regular basis to watch for signs or symptoms of recurrence or late effects (side effects that occur years after treatment). People treated for CML are encouraged to follow established recommendations for good health, such as not smoking, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and receiving appropriate screening for other types of cancer. Learn more about healthy living after cancer

For many patients, imatinib is an ongoing cancer therapy. Any decision to discontinue this treatment should be decided by a patient and doctor together, based these how well imatinib continues to work and the extent of the side effects.

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