The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recommended that patients completing cancer treatment should be provided with a summary of this treatment along with a follow-up plan.[1] The document lists the treatments received and provides a plan for future care including visit and testing schedules. This information is particularly critical for survivors who may develop health problems as a result of their cancer treatment.
Below are resources to guide clinicians and cancer patients in creating cancer treatment summary and follow-up plans.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Oncology nurses and physicians from the MSKCC Survivorship Initiative have developed a cancer treatment summary and follow-up plan template which can be modified by other institutions. This document was designed to be completed by oncology professionals and shared with survivors and survivors' primary care physicians. The template allows customization of the following information:
- Treatment Summary
- surgery
- chemotherapy/biotherapy
- radiation therapy
- Follow-up Plan
- visit schedule
- testing schedule
- cancer screening
- health behavior recommendations
University of Pennsylvania
Oncolife was developed by a team of oncology nurses and physicians from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Patients or clinicians can use this online tool by checking boxes and selecting options from drop-down menus according to type of cancer and treatments received. The program generates a summary of the possible treatment side effects - secondary cancers, bone-density loss, infertility, and cognitive problems.
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
ASCO has developed disease specific cancer treatment summaries and follow-up plans. These resources should be given to patients, nurses, and doctors as a record of care planned and received and to promote communication about future health needs. The link below describes and provides access to the templates.
ASCO Cancer Treatment Summaries
Please Note: These resources are not intended to replace communication with a physician about your cancer care.
[1] Institute of Medicine. 2005. From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Translation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press: 4.
