I have been told by multiple professionals involved in my NHS treatment that post operation, follow up scans are not conducted. No one seems to be able to give me a reason why and the fall back is that follow up care is appointments with them where I would feedback any symptoms and how I'm feeling.
My concern to this approach is that on many occasions cancer isn't easily detected by the patient, so if the cancer has come back or spread, relying on the patient to give feedback that would indicate as such isn't a reliable indicator. By the time the patient does realise something is wrong it might be too late to do something about it.
On top of this, I see a number of people in this forum (and friends that have had cancer in other areas) saying they have follow up scans every 3 months within the first year to scans then every 6 months for the full 5 year follow up term.
This is making me anxious as to why the inconsistency and why I'm being told something else. I have been told I can pay to have scans, but considering others have these scans as routine I don't see why I should have to pay. I'm already going through lot having been diagnosed early this year, and now to have the operation, I don't need any more stress and anxiety. I can't see why scans are routine for all those who have had cancer for those 5 years if only for peace of mind for the patient.
Can anyone offer any insight into why this might be the case? As I said I've have spoken to a number of professionals involved in my care in different areas and they are all saying the same thing, "no follow up scans unless information suggests they are necessary".
Thank you.
