After treatment and remission

Treatment summary

When treatment ends, a document that gathers your whole journey on one or two pages is very valuable. This topic explains what a treatment summary includes and how to use it.

Last updated: 14 October 2026~2 min read

An elegant glowing sheet divided into coloured bands. — **Figure 1.**The summary gathers all treatment on one page.

01Short answer

A treatment summary is a short written overview of all the treatment you received. It usually includes: the diagnosis (type of leukaemia, date, genetic features), the protocol name, treatment phases and dates, medicines and their total doses (especially anthracyclines and steroids), radiation therapy, transplant (type, donor, date), serious complications, response to treatment and doctors’ contact details. ASCO recommends giving this summary together with the follow-up plan. Years later, a new doctor can work out which checks are needed from this document alone.

02Simple explanation

The summary covers all of your treatment.

Most important are the total doses.

Transplant and radiation are recorded separately.

It is the basis of late-effect follow-up.

Ask for it in writing.

03Scientific explanation

ASCO template: covers diagnosis, stage, types of treatment, dates, complications and follow-up recommendations.

Cumulative dose: under the COG guidelines, the total anthracycline dose (as doxorubicin equivalent) sets how often the heart is checked.

Radiation: the area treated (for example the head or whole body) affects follow-up of the thyroid, eyes and second cancers.

Transplant: after an allogeneic transplant, vaccinations and graft-versus-host disease follow-up are planned separately.

04What happens in the body?

What is a treatment summary?

It is a one- or two-page document: when, with which diagnosis and what treatment you had, and how it went.

Medicines and doses

The name and total dose of each important medicine are recorded. Anthracyclines can affect the heart, steroids the bones, and some medicines the kidneys and hearing.

Small vials, each circled by a glowing ring. — **Figure 2.**Medicines and total doses are recorded.

Complications

Events such as severe infections, thrombosis, pancreatitis or allergic reactions are noted — they matter when choosing treatment in future.

How is it used later?

A new doctor, family doctor or specialist in another country can plan follow-up correctly from the summary.

A document drifting toward a lit door at the end of a calm corridor. — **Figure 3.**The summary helps a future doctor.

How to get one

Ask your haematologist at the end of treatment. If there is no ready form, the key information can be gathered together from hospital discharge summaries.

When to call your doctor

Worrying signs — fever, bleeding, new pain, breathlessness — should be reported to your doctor between visits too. Getting in touch early is always better than waiting.

05From treatment to summary

Steps in preparing the summary.

1PhasesTreatment phases are listed.

2DosesTotal doses are calculated.

3ComplicationsKey events are noted.

4HandoverThe summary is given to you.

One documentThe whole journey in one place.

Safe follow-upLate effects are checked.

ContinuityEvery doctor sees the full picture.

06Main sections of a treatment summary (simplified)

Section	Example	Why it matters
Diagnosis	Leukaemia type, date, genetics	Risk and follow-up
Protocol	Name, phases	Extent of treatment
Doses	Anthracyclines, steroids	Heart and bone follow-up
Radiation	Area and dose	Thyroid, second cancers
Transplant	Type, donor, date	Vaccinations, GVHD

* Your doctor completes the content.

07Key terms

Treatment summary: A written overview of the treatment received.
Protocol: A predefined treatment scheme.
Cumulative dose: The total amount of a medicine received.
Anthracyclines: A group of chemotherapy medicines that can affect the heart.
Allogeneic transplant: A stem cell transplant from a donor.
GVHD: Graft-versus-host disease.

08Key points

The summary gathers all treatment.
Total doses matter.
Complications are noted.
It helps future doctors.
Ask for it in writing.
Keep a copy.

09Frequently asked questions

Is a treatment summary the same as a discharge summary?

No. A discharge summary covers one hospital stay; the treatment summary covers all treatment.

Do I need to know my doses?

Not by heart, but they must be written down.

What language should it be in?

Your doctor’s language; a translation helps if you travel abroad.

I was treated as a child and have no summary. What can I do?

Ask the centre where you were treated for archive records.

Does this information replace medical advice?

No. This is general education; only your treating doctor can assess your situation.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

Is a treatment summary the same as a discharge summary?
Do I need to know my doses?
What language should it be in?
I was treated as a child and have no summary. What can I do?
Does this information replace medical advice?

My questions

12Sources

Cancer.Net (ASCO). ASCO Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Care Plans
Children's Oncology Group. Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines for Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers
MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Echocardiogram
American Cancer Society. Living as an Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Survivor
American Cancer Society. Living as an Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Survivor
National Cancer Institute (NCI). Follow-Up Medical Care
National Cancer Institute (NCI). Cancer Survivorship
Cancer.Net (ASCO). Follow-Up Care After Cancer Treatment
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Long-Term and Late Effects of Treatment
National Cancer Institute. Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment

Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.

Last updated: 14 October 2026← Back to the list

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