Living with and beyond cancer

What happens after I have completed my treatment?

You will receive regular follow-up appointments to see how you are doing. 

If you had only surgery, these will be with your surgical team.  If you only had chemotherapy, your follow-up with be with your oncologist. If you had both, then it will be a combined follow-up.

If you just had surgery, these follow-ups will be six monthly for the next five years. If you have had surgery and chemotherapy, you will have follow-ups for five years. Initially, these will be every three to four months for a period of 18 months after chemotherapy has finished. These will then revert to six monthly for the next three and a half years.

During this time your clinical nurse specialist will remain your key point of contact and can arrange for you to be seen earlier than your follow-up if needed.

 

I’m worried my cancer may have returned

If you have any symptoms that may indicate your cancer has returned, or you are experiencing difficulties as a result of your treatment, please call your clinical nurse specialist.

The following symptoms will require investigation:

 

• Pain in the stomach or pelvis
• Bloating or swelling of the stomach
• Bowel changes such as constipation or diarrhoea
• Bleeding from the vagina or back passage
• New aches and pains and generally feeling unwell
• Swelling of legs
• Shortness of breath

These symptoms may be completely unrelated to your cancer, but they could be signs that it has returned.

 

What will happen if I raise a concern?

• You may be offered a clinic appointment for assessment
• It may be suggested that you visit your GP
• Reassurance given