Follow up
You'll have follow up appointments and tests after treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Why you have follow up appointments
You usually have follow up appointments every few months to check how you are and see whether you have any problems or worries. The appointments also give you the chance to raise any concerns you have about your progress.
What happens
Your doctor or nurse examines you at each appointment. They ask how you are feeling, whether you have had any symptoms or side effects, and if you are worried about anything.
You might also have tests at some visits.
Tests
Tests may include:
- being examined by your doctor
- blood tests
- CT scan
- ultrasound scans
You won't have all these tests at every visit to your specialist but they will probably examine you and ask if you have any symptoms or are worried about anything.
Blood tests
You are likely to have some blood tests at each appointment. These test your general health.
You might also have a test for a protein called CA19-9. This is used as a tumour marker, which means that it can be a sign that pancreatic cancer cells are present in the body.
If your CA19-9 levels are going up it could be a sign that your cancer has come back or is growing.
