Stomach cancer

After your cancer treatment has ended, you will still need regular appointments with your cancer specialist. This is called follow-up. Follow-up may involve having blood tests and scans.

Your doctor will discuss your follow-up plan with you. You may want to see the dietitian as well. If you have a follow-up appointment coming up, contact the dietitian to see if you can see them the same day. 

Ask any questions you have, and to let your doctor know if you are having any problems. Tell them about any new symptoms, aches or pains you have, or if you are finding it hard to cope. It can help to write down what you want to say beforehand, so you don’t forget anything.

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.

Join our Life and Cancer – Enhancing Survivorship (LACES) programme when you have finished treatment or started maintenance therapy. 

This workshop covers topics such as diet, exercise, wellbeing, finance and self-management and gives information on support and services to help you.

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 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.