Standard Follow-up Compared With Extended Follow-up in Treating Patients Who Have Undergone Stem Cell Transplantation for Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of a malignancy * Planned bone marrow, stem cell, or umbilical cord transplantation after a myeloablative conditioning regimen * Must have completed radiotherapy and conditioning chemotherapy * Must be first stem cell transplantation * Must recover sufficiently, physically and cognitively, to be ambulatory and able to live at home * Must be planning to live with primary caregiver for at least 3 months upon return home * No refractory breast cancer requiring treatment on a phase I protocol PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Not specified Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Not specified Hepatic * Not specified Renal * Not specified Other * Must be able to read, write, and communicate well by phone in English * Must not be deaf or blind * Must live in the United States * Must not be too ill or in too much pain * No major psychiatric disorders not in remission * No prisoners * No prior major alcohol or drug abuse * No major cognitive problems * No other concurrent confounding major illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Surgery * Not specified