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5 years pathway

Jaycee12
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Hi 
I am 3 years 3 months post treatment for anal cancer and this has been niggling me regarding how long I should be having check ups at my hospital. Every where I read it says five years but I see my oncologist for the very last time next month and she has told me I will not need to go there anymore. I just feel this is the start of putting financials before post cancer patients and don’t know if this is the normal route. Please could you advise me if I should ask to stay on the five year pathway.

thankyou

Julie

  • Hi Jaycee12,

    Thank you for getting in touch with us and welcome back to our online community. I’m Lorna one of the cancer information nurse specialists on the support line.

    I can see from your profile that you have joined the anal cancer forum. I do hope you are finding this helpful and getting good support and advice from this.

    It can be difficult to understand why some decisions are made with a follow up appointment. The aim of follow up care is to make sure everything is going well and to find out if you have any concerns. They usually continue for up to 5 years. This can however vary from hospital to hospital and will depend on what the aim of your treatment was and the risk of your cancer coming back.

    If you have another appointment with your consultant, it would be helpful to ask them if you would benefit from having any further appointments. You can also speak to your clinical nurse specialist who will be able to support you too.  It might help to prepare for this appointment with questions to ask your healthcare team. If you are still unhappy with the decision that has been made you can speak to PALS. We have information about your rights as an NHS patient here too.

    I hope this has been helpful, but please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if you need any further information or support.

    Best wishes and take care, 

    Lorna (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist) 

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

    Ref/ LB/GMc






    Lorna-Macmillan (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist)
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