Always follow the advice of your care team.
Long-term Recovery and Survivorship
Each person’s immune system and recovery process is different. For that reason, it is important not to focus too much on a date, but rather how you feel.
Although you may no longer have cancer, your body may experience long-term effects from treatment. Your care team will continue to monitor your progress and will discuss treatment options to help manage any complications you develop after your transplant. Be sure to tell your team right away if you don’t feel well.
For some, follow-up will take place at Dana-Farber; others will receive follow-up care with their local oncologist. Follow-up care will be different for each person, depending on the type of cancer and treatment he or she had and the person’s general health. Your doctor will help determine the follow-up care plan that is right for you.
At your follow-up appointments, you will usually have a physical exam and your doctor will ask how you’re feeling or about any symptoms you’re having. These appointments are an opportunity for you to raise questions or concerns such as:
Survivorship Services for Allogeneic Transplant Patients
Dana-Farber offers a specialized Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Survivorship Clinic for survivors who received an allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant. This clinic sees patients approximately one year after transplant and focuses on preventive care to improve overall health and well-being. You may meet with a number of providers who specialize in the care of transplant survivors, including a:
The goal of this visit is to develop a care plan based on your medical history to help guide your ongoing health needs with your primary care physician. You will continue to have visits with your transplant physician for the management of GVHD and regular transplantation follow-up care. For more information, please call 617-632-5138.
Survivorship Care
All stem cell transplant survivors should have follow-up care. Understanding what to expect after cancer treatment can help survivors and their families plan for follow-up care, make lifestyle changes, stay hopeful, and make important decisions.
Survivorship care plans will address:
Dana-Farber’s Adult Survivorship Program
You can also take advantage of a wide range of services available through Dana-Farber’s Adult Survivorship Program. Our specialists are specifically focused on the needs of cancer survivors and managing the long-term of late effects of cancer treatment. Depending on need, you may meet with experts in a range of specialties, including cardiology (heart), pulmonology (lung), endocrinology (hormone disease), nephrology (kidney), sexual health, gynecology, psychosocial oncology, nutrition, and exercise. For more information, visit www.dana-farber.org/survivor or call 617-632-4523.
Although you may no longer have cancer, your body may experience long-term effects from treatment. Your care team will continue to monitor your progress and will discuss treatment options to help manage any complications you develop after your transplant. Be sure to tell your team right away if you don’t feel well.
For some, follow-up will take place at Dana-Farber; others will receive follow-up care with their local oncologist. Follow-up care will be different for each person, depending on the type of cancer and treatment he or she had and the person’s general health. Your doctor will help determine the follow-up care plan that is right for you.
At your follow-up appointments, you will usually have a physical exam and your doctor will ask how you’re feeling or about any symptoms you’re having. These appointments are an opportunity for you to raise questions or concerns such as:
- Symptoms that you think may be a sign of cancer’s return
- Any pain that troubles you
- Any physical problems that get in the way of your daily life or that bother you, such as fatigue, trouble sleeping, loss of sex drive, or weight gain or loss
- Other health problems you have, such as heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis
- Any medicines, vitamins, or herbs you are taking and any other treatments you are using
- Any emotional problems you may have, and any anxiety or depression you have had in the past
- Any changes in your family medical history
- Things you want to know more about (such as new research or side effects)
Survivorship Services for Allogeneic Transplant Patients
Dana-Farber offers a specialized Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Survivorship Clinic for survivors who received an allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant. This clinic sees patients approximately one year after transplant and focuses on preventive care to improve overall health and well-being. You may meet with a number of providers who specialize in the care of transplant survivors, including a:
- Transplant survivorship provider
- Oral medicine specialist
- Dermatologist
- Ophthalmologist
- Nutritionist
- Exercise physiologist
- Social worker
The goal of this visit is to develop a care plan based on your medical history to help guide your ongoing health needs with your primary care physician. You will continue to have visits with your transplant physician for the management of GVHD and regular transplantation follow-up care. For more information, please call 617-632-5138.
Survivorship Care
All stem cell transplant survivors should have follow-up care. Understanding what to expect after cancer treatment can help survivors and their families plan for follow-up care, make lifestyle changes, stay hopeful, and make important decisions.
Survivorship care plans will address:
- The tests and follow-up care you need, and how often you will need them
- Routine healthcare tests and screenings, and recommended timing based on your treatment
- The kinds of physical problems you may have from your cancer treatment and what you can do to prevent, reduce, or solve them
- The potential long-term effects of treatment and the warning signs that you might have them
- The warning signs that cancer may be coming back and what to do if you see them
- Fears you may have about follow-up care
Dana-Farber’s Adult Survivorship Program
You can also take advantage of a wide range of services available through Dana-Farber’s Adult Survivorship Program. Our specialists are specifically focused on the needs of cancer survivors and managing the long-term of late effects of cancer treatment. Depending on need, you may meet with experts in a range of specialties, including cardiology (heart), pulmonology (lung), endocrinology (hormone disease), nephrology (kidney), sexual health, gynecology, psychosocial oncology, nutrition, and exercise. For more information, visit www.dana-farber.org/survivor or call 617-632-4523.
Immunizations
The treatment you receive as part of the transplant process gives you a new immune system. Therefore, you are no longer protected by any vaccinations you had before your transplant.
Nine months after transplant, your transplant physician will discuss your new vaccination schedule with you. If you are not seeing your transplant physician, ask your current physician to contact your transplant physician to discuss immunizations and vaccinations. Recommended vaccination guidelines are below.
Recommended Guidelines for Vaccinations for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Patients (PDF)
Precautions Related to Vaccinations of Children in Your Life
Talk with your doctor about the immunization status of your children or other children who may have regular contact with you. There are certain live virus vaccines administered to children that can potentially increase your risk of infection.
If in doubt or you have questions about your children’s vaccines, contact your care team.
Please refer to the comprehensive guide - Stem Cell Transplantation: An Information Guide for Patients and Caregivers - for more information.
The treatment you receive as part of the transplant process gives you a new immune system. Therefore, you are no longer protected by any vaccinations you had before your transplant.
Nine months after transplant, your transplant physician will discuss your new vaccination schedule with you. If you are not seeing your transplant physician, ask your current physician to contact your transplant physician to discuss immunizations and vaccinations. Recommended vaccination guidelines are below.
Recommended Guidelines for Vaccinations for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Patients (PDF)
Precautions Related to Vaccinations of Children in Your Life
Talk with your doctor about the immunization status of your children or other children who may have regular contact with you. There are certain live virus vaccines administered to children that can potentially increase your risk of infection.
- The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is generally safe to give and requires no extra precautions.
- If your child needs a live rotavirus vaccine, you will need to observe strict hand-hygiene and not change diapers for four weeks after they are vaccinated.
- The children’s live Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine is generally safe, but you should avoid contact with your child if they develop a rash or clinical illness following vaccination.
- The injectable polio vaccine (inactivated) is safe.
- Avoid contact with children who receive the oral polio vaccine. While the oral polio vaccine is no longer available in the US, it is still used in many parts of the world. For patients outside of the US where the oral polio vaccine is available, it is recommended that children who have contact with you receive the injectable polio vaccine if possible.
If in doubt or you have questions about your children’s vaccines, contact your care team.
Please refer to the comprehensive guide - Stem Cell Transplantation: An Information Guide for Patients and Caregivers - for more information.