You will also need to schedule follow-up visits with your physician. Some people delay seeking treatment and are lax in keeping medical appointments. If there is a remission and there are no symptoms, there is often uncertainty about the possibility of a recurrence. This uncertainty can cause people to be fearful or possibly minimize the importance of follow-up care. Anxious feelings or a failure to recognize the onset of new symptoms can lead to delay in seeking treatment or failure to comply with a physician's recommendations.
Some people have trouble performing the skin self-exam.
For example, it is often easier to notice changes in moles on the arms and chest as opposed to the back. If you are unclear about how to perform the skin self-exam or have other questions about your care, be sure to ask your physician. Some of the adjustments you will need to make require little effort, whereas others may seem overwhelming. Support and encouragement from family, friends and your health-care team will help minimize the difficulties associated with these adjustments. Support and encouragement are helpful at any time during the course of cancer diagnosis and treatment, but sometimes this is not enough.