But in many other cases, Agarwal said there’s a missed opportunity for health teams to also be proactive in addressing predictable side effects that can come with treatment, and integrating care from other specialties like urology and cardiology ahead of time.
For example, many patients who’ve had prostate cancer can develop urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, bowel problems and fatigue. But too often, Agarwal said people are left to deal with the post-cancer effects on their own while trying to navigate a fragmented health care system.
“The patient becomes a project manager,” he said. “And they’re not equipped to do that, unfortunately.”
Long-term side effects can also involve the emotional and psychological aspects of surviving cancer. Discussing and making a health plan for what patients want to achieve after cancer treatment can be important for someone to not only survive, but thrive after they are cured of disease, Agarwal said.
“I’ve really seen a lot of people kind of return to a state where they’re really happy with their lives, they’re really thriving. Their relationships are thriving, their health is thriving,” he said.
While some larger health systems and cancer centers across the country have invested in expanding survivorship programs and support services, Agarwal said progress in this space has been uneven and there’s a lot more work to be done to close gaps in care.
“I really do think now in 2026, we can guide people,” he said. “And if they’re not part of a big system, we could still guide them in the right direction.”