Follow up appointment

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Hi

At my follow up appointment after my second surgery at the end of July, I was informed I would be seen by the consultant every 4-6 weeks,with a scan every 3 months for the first 2 years. 
I have just received my appointment…February 10th, no scan appointment included 

I am concerned as I was hoping the regular check ups would give me peace of mind and if the cancer decided to rear its ugly head again, it would be caught early. 

Have I misunderstood the timescales of follow ups? Is this normal 

I’d be grateful for any feedback 

  • I was seen every six weeks for the first year, three months for the second and third then every six months 

    No scans after the PET at 16 weeks. 
    I think that sort of interval is fairly standard with the odd departure. You didn’t have RT did you? Maybe that’s why frequent post treatment scanning was mentioned. Ask at your next review. 
    Almost all recurrence is spotted by the patient outside routine appointments anyway so there are trials in going to PIFU after a year. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • Thank you for your reply. 

    I have noticed a few issues which have come on 6 weeks post surgery, so I guess I was just hoping for peace of mind

  • Suzie. If you feel that something is wrong please phone your CNS to get seen. They won’t mind. I have been seen once out of sequence and once since discharge. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • I would check with your CNS as February is 4 months away. Errors do occur 

  • If your consultant said he/she wanted to see you every 4 to 6 weeks, then you should check why your appointment is over 4 months away, admin could have it wrong. From July to February is quite a long time between reviews.

    Ray. 

  • I think Ray is right. Reads like an admin error. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge

  • Thank you. I will do x