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Anal Cancer
Follow-up Care
After active treatment is over, you’re encouraged to develop a survivorship care plan with your doctor. This plan will include a follow-up schedule of appointments to monitor for signs the cancer has returned or spread and to address the management of long-term or late effects. Let your doctor or nurse know about any new symptoms or issues between appointments, as they may indicate a recurrence or a second cancer.
Developing a second cancer after an anal cancer diagnosis is a possibility. Ask your doctor about your risk for the following:
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Cancer of the tongue
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Cancer of the tonsil
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Vaginal cancer
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Vulvar cancer
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Lung cancer
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Kaposi sarcoma
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Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (if diagnosed with anal cancer before age 50)
An important part of follow-up care is feeling good physically and emotionally. Your doctor or nurse can recommend other specialists, such as a sex therapist or dietitian, who can address your post-treatment concerns. Leading a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and decreasing your risks for contracting human papillomavirus (HPV), are also recommended (see More about HPV).
Additional Resources
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