A patient is considered a survivor from the time she is diagnosed with cancer throughout the duration of her life. Colorado Gynecologic Oncology Specialists (CGOS) is committed to helping you and your family throughout your survivorship journey and are here for you from initial diagnosis, throughout treatment, and into surveillance and beyond. We acknowledge the unique needs of the cancer patient, including the physical, mental, and emotional effects of diagnosis and treatment. Your Survivorship Team – comprised of a Physician Assistant, Nurse Navigator, and clinical nurses – works together with our physicians throughout your journey to help you address these needs. In short, we want to help you live your best life.
Survivorship visits take place upon treatment completion. It is an intentional time to address the “now what?” and to help transition to a “new normal”. During these visits, the patient reviews a personalized Treatment Summary and Follow-up Care Plan with a member of the healthcare team. This document may be shared with the patient’s other health care providers such as her PCP. This ensures establishment of an accurate health history and communicates what follow-up needs to happen with which provider, when, and for how long. We also discuss how to reduce your risk of recurrence, physical activity/exercise, proper nutrition, bone health, other cancer screenings, regular care by a PCP, and managing short and long-term side effects such as cognitive function, fatigue, menopausal symptoms, sleep disorders, sexual function, anxiety and/or depression, and much more. Visits may also include a discussion of any caregiver or family needs. Survivorship visits are considered a medical office visit and are therefore covered by most insurance plans.
