Menu Close

After Completion of Therapy Clinic Transition

What is the ACT Clinic?

Your move to the ACT Clinic is an exciting milestone. It marks the official transition of care from your original treating clinic to the ACT Clinic. The After Completion of Therapy Clinic, or ACT Clinic, helps bridge the gap between active treatment at St. Jude and the long-term health care needs of adulthood. The clinic’s goal is to help survivors stay healthy.

ACT Clinic staff will:

  • Talk to you about your progress
  • Check for possible problems
  • Explain how your cancer treatment could affect your long-term health
  • Help you find health care providers in your home community
  • Partner with you to ensure your unique health care needs are met

How long will I continue to visit the ACT Clinic?

Most ACT patients are seen on a regular basis until age 18 or 10 years after diagnosis, whichever occurs later. We are here for you, and we look forward to building a strong and caring relationship with you.

Scheduling an appointment:

The ACT Clinic has a special scheduling team to plan your check-up.

To make sure they can reach you, please let us know about changes of address, phone numbers and email.

  • Several months before your appointment, St. Jude will confirm the proposed date and time of your visit. If your trip to St. Jude requires a flight, call 901-595-5000, Option 1 Patient Travel, or email patienttravel@stjude.org. If you live in the U.S., contact Patient Travel at least 14 days before your visit. If you live outside of the U.S., contact St. Jude at least 60 days beforehand.
  • Please let the scheduling team know as early as possible if you cannot attend your appointment. This allows the scheduler to offer the appointment to other St. Jude patients.

If you have questions or concerns about scheduling, you can:

  • Call 901-595-6146 and select the ACT option.
  • If you are outside the Memphis area, dial toll-free 1-8662STJUDE (1-866-278-5833), extension 6146.
  • Visit the patient portal and click on ACT schedulers.

Transitioning care to local providers:

The aim of the ACT Clinic is to keep you healthy after cancer. One of the most important things we do is help you find local health care providers to care for your needs throughout adulthood.

ACT Clinic staff will look at all the treatments you received and any ongoing health concerns. We will use those details to create a survivorship care plan.

It is a tool you will be able to use for the rest of your life. You should share the survivorship care plan with your local health care providers.

They will use it as a guide to monitor your health and risk factors as you age.

The plan includes:

  • A summary of your diagnosis and treatment
  • Risk factors for health problems related to your cancer treatment
  • A schedule of screenings, tests and other recommendations related to your cancer treatment

ACT Clinic staff will update the plan during your yearly check-ups. You may also access your plan on the St. Jude patient portal.

Social workers provide vital support:

A social worker sees every survivor at the first ACT Clinic visit; at any other visit, as needed; and at the final visit. Social workers are also ready to help you overcome the challenges of survivorship.

You may see a social worker to discuss topics such as:

  • Health insurance
  • Financial or legal matters
  • School issues
  • Adjustment to life after treatment
  • Local medical and mental health services
  • Medication programs
  • College scholarships
  • Guardianship and conservatorship
  • Health behaviors and health risks
  • Primary and specialty health care providers in your local community.

If you need any of these services before your first ACT evaluation, call 901-595-3658 and ask to speak to an ACT social worker.

—
Reviewed: September 2022