Read article Follow up for pancreatic cancer
This page is about follow up appointments after your treatment for pancreatic cancer. You can find the following information
What happens during check ups?
After your treatment has finished, your doctor will want you to have regular check ups. Your doctor may examine you and ask how you are feeling and whether you have had any symptoms or are worried about anything.
You may also have blood tests, X-rays, CT scans or ultrasound scans. You will not have all these tests at every visit to your specialist.
If you are worried or notice any new symptoms between appointments, tell your doctor or clinical nurse specialist as soon as possible. You don’t have to wait until your next appointment.
Feeling worried about follow up appointments
Many people find their check ups quite worrying. If you are feeling well and getting on with life, a hospital appointment can bring all the worry about your cancer back to you. You may find it helpful to tell someone close to you how you are feeling.
It is quite common now for people to have counselling after cancer treatment. To find out more about counselling, look in the coping with cancer section.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the treating pancreatic cancer section.
After your treatment has finished, your doctor will want you to have regular check ups. These may include
- Being examined by your doctor
- Blood tests
- X-rays
- CT scan
- Ultrasound scans
You will not have all these tests at every visit to your specialist. But your doctor will probably examine you and ask how you are feeling, and whether you have had any symptoms or are worried about anything. You will also have some blood tests at each appointment. One blood test you may have is for CA19-9. This is a chemical which is used as a tumour marker, which means that it can be a sign that a cancer is active. If you have a high level of CA19-9, this could mean that your pancreatic cancer has come back. You won't necessarily have a scan unless you have symptoms or a high CA19-9 level, or if you are on a trial and a scan is part of the protocol.
At first your check ups will be more regular. If you have had surgery to remove your cancer, you will probably be seen about 6 weeks later. But if all is well, your appointments will become less frequent. You may only need to attend the clinic every 3 to 6 months. If you are worried or notice any new symptoms between appointments you must let your doctor or clinical nurse specialist know as soon as possible. You don't have to wait until the next appointment.
Many people find their check ups quite worrying. If you are feeling well and getting on with life, a hospital appointment can bring all the worry about your cancer back to you. 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 not seem quite so bad. It is quite common now for people to have counselling after cancer treatment. To find out more about counselling, look in the coping with cancer section.
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