Breast Cancer Survivorship
At the most basic level, survivorship is surviving cancer. But there is much more to life after breast cancer than simply surviving: survivorship includes your long-term physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial well-being.
What is survivorship?
The concept of survivorship is complicated and means different things to different people. According to the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), an advocacy organization created by and for cancer survivors, survivorship starts when you are diagnosed with cancer and continues for the rest of your life. But when we talk about survivorship, we’re usually referring to the time after initial treatments — surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy — are completed. You might still be on a long-term treatment such as hormonal therapy, but your main treatments for the cancer are likely to be finished.
It’s important to know that many people dislike the term and use other language to describe their situations and experiences. And some consider the words survivor and survivorship to be insensitive and offensive, especially because people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer have to receive treatment for the rest of their lives. At Breastcancer.org, we understand and are focused on making sure all people, regardless of cancer stage, can benefit from planning for late and long-term side effects and have the tools and information they need to have the best quality of life possible.
During survivorship care, your focus shifts from active breast cancer treatment to your long-term health and wellness. You and your healthcare team develop a plan that:
meets your unique health needs and concerns
monitors any late and long-term treatment effects
coordinates care between specialists and primary care providers
Many experts encourage people and their healthcare teams to plan for life after breast cancer treatment even before treatment starts. Having a plan in place can help you and your doctor prepare or even try to minimize any potential late and long-term effects of breast cancer treatments. Late effects are side effects that start months or years after breast cancer treatment ends. Long-term effects begin during breast cancer treatment and may continue for months or years after treatment ends.
Finding a breast cancer survivorship program or clinic
Many hospitals and cancer centers have specialized breast cancer survivorship programs or clinics that provide care for patients after they complete their main cancer treatment. These programs and clinics can help you develop a survivorship care plan, help you manage treatment side effects, refer you to specialists, provide resources for mental health support, and address many other post-treatment needs.
Ask your healthcare team for information or search online to see if there is a survivorship clinic or program at the facility where you received treatment or near where you live. The cancer education website OncoLink has a searchable database of survivorship clinics across the U.S.
Creating a survivorship care plan
A survivorship care plan includes two parts: a written summary of all the treatments you’ve received and recommendations for follow-up care based on your diagnosis and treatment.
Learn more about creating a survivorship care plan.
Survivorship screening and testing
After you complete your main breast cancer treatment, your doctor usually recommends screening tests for breast and other cancers, as well as tests for late and long-term treatment side effects based on your unique needs and the types of treatments you received.
Learn more about survivorship screening and testing.
Late and long-term side effects
A number of people diagnosed with breast cancer have late and long-term treatment side effects. Late side effects start months or even years after treatment ends, while long-term side effects can start during or after treatment and last for months or years after treatment ends.
Here are some of the most common late and long-term side effects among people diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mental and emotional health after treatment ends
After being diagnosed with breast cancer, some people may feel anxious, sad, or stressed. Sometimes these feelings subside as time passes, and other times these feelings can linger for months or even years and begin to affect your daily life. Anyone diagnosed with breast cancer can benefit from mental health support.
Returning to work after treatment ends
After you finish your main breast cancer treatment, you may be ready to return to your old job — a transition that may be more or less smooth depending on how long you’ve been away, how you’re feeling, and a number of other factors.
Learn more about returning to work after treatment.
Financial concerns after treatment ends
The costs of breast cancer treatment and follow-up care can be a financial strain for some people and their families, even when they have health insurance.
Special concerns for younger survivors
People who are diagnosed with breast cancer when they’re younger than 50 may have different concerns from people who are diagnosed when they’re older, such as fertility. Younger people also may be more concerned about certain factors than people who are diagnosed when they’re older, such as sexual function and the risk of other cancers.
Learn more about special concerns for younger survivors.
— Last updated on August 7, 2025 at 9:57 PM