Survivorship care

What it is

Survivorship care addresses the ongoing needs of people living with or beyond a glioma. It includes monitoring for recurrence, managing long-term or late effects of the tumor and its treatment, and supporting physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being over the long term, with coordinated, ongoing care.

Understanding Survivorship care

Whether a glioma is cured, controlled, or managed as a chronic condition, people often have ongoing needs that survivorship care addresses. This includes continued surveillance imaging and follow-up to monitor for recurrence or progression; managing late effects of treatment (such as cognitive changes, fatigue, hormonal effects, or other long-term consequences of surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy); supporting function and rehabilitation as needed; addressing emotional well-being and adjustment; and coordinating care across providers over time. For children, survivorship care also includes monitoring growth, development, and the long-term effects of treatment on a developing body and brain, often over many years. Survivorship care recognizes that the journey continues after initial treatment and that ongoing, coordinated attention helps people live as well as possible. The care team helps develop a survivorship plan tailored to the individual. Understanding survivorship care in gliomas clarifies the ongoing care for people living with or beyond these tumors.

Why it matters

Understanding survivorship care helps patients and families see the ongoing, long-term care that addresses their continuing needs — monitoring, managing late effects, and supporting well-being so they can live as well as possible.