Overview

Breast cancer supportive therapy and survivorship services help you feel better during and after breast cancer treatment.

Breast cancer supportive therapy generally refers to services that help you feel better during treatment. Supportive therapy includes a wide variety of services to manage issues surrounding a cancer diagnosis. Supportive therapy can help you with the physical and emotional side effects of cancer treatment.

Breast cancer survivorship services generally refers to support that continues after treatment. Survivorship services might include follow-up tests to look for signs that the cancer has come back or to look for complications caused by treatment. These services also include helping you manage any lingering side effects of cancer.

Your specific needs during breast cancer treatment will determine the types of supportive therapy and survivorship services that may be helpful to you.

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Why it's done

The goal of breast cancer supportive therapy and survivorship services is to help you feel better during and after cancer treatment.

Breast cancer supportive therapy generally refers to services that help you feel better during cancer treatment. These services may help you cope with the physical and emotional side effects of cancer treatment. If symptoms such as pain and distress are under control, you may be more likely to be able to complete your treatments.

Breast cancer survivorship services generally refers to support that continues after treatment. These services often include making a plan for your care after breast cancer treatment. Having a plan may help you focus on recovery and healing. Survivorship services may help you get back to the activities you enjoyed before your cancer diagnosis.

What you can expect

Breast cancer supportive therapy and survivorship services are based on your needs.

Breast cancer supportive therapy might include attention to:

Symptom control, such as management of pain and menopausal symptoms.
Emotional concerns, such as sadness and distress.
Other health conditions that might complicate cancer treatment, such as heart disease.
Therapy to aid recovery after treatment, such as physical therapy for arm swelling or shoulder stiffness after surgery, radiation therapy, or both.

Breast cancer survivorship services might include:

Follow-up appointments with your healthcare professional.
Discussion of the symptoms that might indicate a cancer recurrence or complications from treatment.
Continuing treatment for physical or emotional concerns that continue after treatment ends.
Recommendations for lifestyle changes, such as exercise and weight loss, to help your recovery and reduce your risk of cancer recurrence.

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By Mayo Clinic Staff

Breast cancer supportive therapy and survivorship care at Mayo Clinic

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Doctors & Departments

April 03, 2024

Palliative care. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=3&id=1454. Accessed Oct. 27, 2023.
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Cathcart-Rake EJ, et al. Advances in the care of breast cancer survivors. BMJ. 2023; doi:10.1136/bmj‑2022‑071565.
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Hospitals and facilities. American College of Surgeons. https://www.facs.org/hospital-and-facilities/?searchTerm=&institution=CocHospital&page=1. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
Member institutions. Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. https://www.allianceforclinicaltrialsinoncology.org/main/public/standard.xhtml?path=%2FPublic%2FInstitutions. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
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News from Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: What is a cancer survivorship clinic? Sept. 06, 2022, 01:00 p.m. CDT
Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: What to expect after breast cancer June 21, 2022, 12:42 p.m. CDT

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