Read article Follow up after anal cancer
This page tells you about follow up after treatment for anal cancer.
Follow up after anal cancer
After your treatment is finished you will have regular check ups. These may include examination by the doctor, and CT, MRI or ultrasound scans. Your doctor will ask how you are feeling, whether you have had symptoms, and whether you are worried about anything.
How often are the check ups?
At first, your check ups will be every few weeks or months. They will gradually get less frequent. If you are worried, or have a new symptom between appointments, tell your doctor as soon as possible. You don’t have to wait until your next appointment.
Worrying about check ups
Many people worry about going for their checkups. You may find it helpful to tell someone close to you about how you are feeling. It is quite common nowadays to have counselling after cancer treatment.
Specialist nurse support
Many bowel surgery units have a colorectal nurse specialist as well as a stoma specialist nurse. Both these nurses will give you telephone numbers to contact them if you have any worries or problems.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the treating anal cancer section.
After your treatment is finished, you will have regular check ups. These may include
- An examination by the doctor
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- Ultrasound scans
You won’t have these tests at every visit but your doctor will examine you each time. Your doctor will ask
- How you are feeling
- If you have had symptoms
- If you are worried about anything
How often you have scans will depend on your individual case and your hospital guidelines.
At first, your check ups will be every few weeks or months. They will gradually become less often. If you are worried, or have a new symptom between appointments, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible. You don’t have to wait until your next appointment.
Many people worry about going for their check ups. If you are well and getting on with your life it can bring back all the worry about your cancer. You may find it helpful to tell someone close to you about how you are feeling. Sharing your concerns can make them seem not so bad.
It is quite common nowadays for people to have counselling after cancer treatment. To find out more about counselling, look in the coping with cancer section.
Many bowel surgery units have a colorectal specialist nurse as well as a stoma specialist nurse. You usually meet them in the clinic before you have surgery. Both of these specialist nurses will give you a telephone number for you to contact them if you have any worries or problems.
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