Follow up for Hodgkin's lymphoma

Men and women discussing Hodgkin's lymphoma

This page tells you about follow up for Hodgkin's lymphoma. There is information about

A quick guide to what's on this page
What happens at follow up appointments
How often you have check ups
What to do if you are worried

Follow up for Hodgkin’s lymphoma

After your treatment has finished, you will have regular check ups. Your doctor will examine you and you may have a blood test at each appointment. You may also have CT scans, PET-CT scans or X-rays from time to time. Your doctor will ask how you are feeling and whether you have any new symptoms. If you are worried or notice any new symptoms between appointments, let your doctor know straight away.

How often and how long for?

Your check ups will continue for several years. At first they will be every 3 months. If all is well, you will go less and less often. Some specialists stop follow up appointments and discharge you after 3 years. Your doctor may want you to carry on having check ups because of the small risk of getting another cancer. They may suggest that you join a regular screening programme - for example, women who had radiotherapy to the chest for Hodgkin's before the age of 35 should have regular breast cancer screening.

If you are worried

Many people find their check ups quite worrying. You may find it helpful to tell someone close to you how you feel. Or you could try talking to someone at a cancer support group. It is quite common nowadays for people to have counselling after cancer treatment. Look in the coping with cancer section of CancerHelp UK for more information.

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After your treatment has finished, you will need to have regular check ups. At each appointment your doctor or specialist nurse will examine you and you may have a blood test. Your doctor or nurse will ask how you are feeling, and whether you have any new symptoms. They will also check whether you have any ongoing effects from your lymphoma treatment. If you do have new symptoms or any effects from treatment, your doctor or specialist nurse may also ask you to have some of the following tests.

Your check ups may continue for several years. At first they will be every 3 months. If all is well you will go to the outpatient department less and less often. After 2 years, you may only need to go every 6 months. Some specialists stop follow up appointments and discharge you after 3 years for some types of lymphoma. How often and how long you need to go for follow up appointments depends on the typr of Hodgkin's lymphoma you had and the treatment you have had.

Some people need to go back to the hospital for check ups for more than 3 years due to the small risk of getting another cancer after Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment. Your doctor may suggest that you join a regular screening programme. We now recommend that women who had radiotherapy to the chest for Hodgkin's before the age of 35 should have regular breast cancer screening. There is detailed information about breast cancer risk after Hodgkin's in the lymphoma questions and answers section. There is also information about second cancer risk after radiotherapy and second cancer risk after chemotherapy in this section of CancerHelp UK.

If you are worried or notice any new symptoms between appointments let your doctor or specialist nurse know straight away. You don't have to wait until the next appointment. Your medical team would rather know if there is something worrying you.

Many people find their check ups quite worrying. If you are feeling well and getting on with your life, a hospital appointment can bring back all the worry about having cancer. You may find it helpful to tell someone close to you how you are feeling. If you are able to share your worries, they may seem easier to deal with.

It is quite common nowadays for people to have counselling after cancer treatment. You can find out about counselling in the CancerHelp UK coping with cancer section. You may prefer to talk to someone outside your circle of family and friends. You could try talking to someone at your local church or place of worship. Or someone at a cancer support group who may have been through similar experiences. The Lymphoma Association can put you in touch with other people who have had Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Cancer Research UK has an online discussion forum called Cancer Chat where you can talk to other people affected by cancer, share experiences, and find information.

Look at our general cancer organisations page for organisations that can help to put you in touch with a support group. The counselling organisations page gives details of organisations that can help you to find a counsellor in your area.