Oesophageal cancer

Once your treatment for cancer is over, your doctor may recommend that you have regular check-ups. This is called follow-up. The follow-up may involve having a physical exam, blood tests and/or scans or camera tests. Follow-up protocols vary at different hospitals. Speak to your doctor about which follow-up plan is best for you.

You may have symptoms and ups and downs in your recovery. This doesn’t mean you aren’t making progress.

Some people who have had treatment for oesophageal cancer have ‘late effects’. These are side-effects that happen some time after treatment. Your doctor will monitor you for these.

Late effects can include:

• Issues with swallowing, food getting stuck
• Changes in eating or digestion, nutritional issues
• Breathlessness, reduced exercise tolerance
• Pain
• Low mood

If you have any symptoms that are bothering you, it is important that you discuss these with your doctor during your follow-up appointment. You can also meet with the dietitian to discuss any eating problems you might have. If your mobility has not improved or you have trouble breathing, the physiotherapist can help you.

• Tell your doctor or nurse how you have been since your last appointment, including if you're having any symptoms or if you are finding it hard to cope.
• It can help to write down what you want to say before you see the doctor, so you don’t forget what you wanted to say.
• If you are between appointments and have a symptom or problem that is worrying you, call your specialist nurse for advice or to arrange an earlier outpatient appointment if necessary.
• If you become suddenly unwell and can’t contact your specialist nurse or hospital team, go to your GP or the emergency department at the hospital.

It’s important to attend your follow-up appointments so your doctor can help with any side-effects that you may have and check for signs of new side-effects that may develop after you have finished treatment.

It is better to be aware of these as early as possible so that suitable treatment can be given.  

The doctor will also check for signs of the cancer coming back (recurrence). These can include difficulty swallowing food, vomiting, abdominal pain, chest pain, unexpected or excessive weight loss or new onset hoarseness of voice.

It’s very common to worry about cancer coming back and it can be hard to live with this fear. 

Although you may feel anxious before your follow-up appointments, staying in touch with your medical team can help you feel more in control. On the other hand, some people may prefer to have less frequent follow-up appointments if they are feeling well. Speak to your doctor about what is best for you. 

Often people find their worries lessen as time goes on.

The end of treatment is a time when people often expect to feel relieved, happy and able to get on with life again, but it can take some time to adjust and for your body and mind to recover.

Sometimes cancer does come back, even after successful treatment. Cancer cells may remain in your body and grow again, although your doctors do all they can to prevent this.

If the cancer comes back (recurrent oesophageal cancer) you may have more surgery or other treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy, depending on where the cancer is and your general health. 

There may also be treatments you can have as part of a clinical trial.  Your doctor will advise you on what’s best in your situation. You might also find it reassuring to have another medical opinion. Your doctor will refer you to another specialist for a second opinion if you feel this would be helpful.