Follow up after treatment for womb cancer

After treatment for womb cancer, you have regular checkups at the hospital. You also have tests, including blood tests, x-rays and scans. Over time, these appointments become less frequent.

Why you have follow up appointments

You usually have follow up appointments to check how you are and see whether you have any problems or worries. The appointments also give you the chance to raise any concerns you have about your progress.

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How often are my check ups?

Your first check up is generally about 4 to 6 weeks after treatment finishes. Then your check ups might be every few months. They will gradually become less frequent.

How often you have appointments may depend on:

• the hospital’s follow up policy
• the risk of your womb cancer coming back 
• they type of treatment you had
• your circumstances

Some women may have check ups:

• every 3 or 4 months for the first couple of years
• then every 6 months for up to 5 years

Some women may only have follow up appointments for the first 2 years. After this time, you are given plenty of information about what to look out for and who to contact if you have any concerns. This is called patient initiated follow up (PIFU).

Some people may have PIFU from the end of treatment.

Patient initiated follow up (PIFU)

Patient initiated follow up (PIFU) is a way of running check ups. This system leaves it to you to take the lead in arranging to see your doctor or specialist nurse. You might also hear this called open access follow up (OAFU).

When you first finish treatment, your hospital arranges your appointments. But once your doctors are happy with your progress you can arrange them yourself. You can do this as often as you feel you need to.

You might want to make an appointment if you:

• have noticed a change in your body that worries you

• feel it is time you had a check up, even though you don't have any particular worries

In some situations, your specialist will ask you to book in for a particular test every so often.

This system means you can organise appointments to suit your own health needs. It also means that clinics aren’t full of people who might not need to see their doctor. This helps the hospital to keep waiting times short, so you can get an appointment quickly when you need one.

Some people may worry that not having regular follow up appointments at the hospital clinic may cause that cancer coming back will not be noticed. But, evidence has shown that womb cancer coming back is unlikely to be picked up by a doctor’s examination alone. This is when someone has no symptoms of womb cancer. People themselves find most womb cancers coming back in between appointments.

What happens?

Your doctor or nurse examines you at each appointment. They ask how you are feeling, whether you have had any symptoms or side effects, and if you are worried about anything. You might also have tests at some visits.

You usually go to the cancer clinic for follow up. You might have a video or telephone appointment instead of a face-to-face appointment.

Your healthcare team will let you know about your follow up appointment and what to expect.

Tests may include:

• a physical examination

• blood tests

• x-rays

• ultrasound

• CT scans

You might go for check ups at the surgical outpatients after surgery. You will go to the cancer clinic if you have had radiotherapy or chemotherapy. 

The surgeon and oncologist might share your follow up. This means you will see the surgeon sometimes and the oncologist at other times.

Between appointments

Many people find their check ups quite worrying. A hospital appointment can bring back any anxiety you had about your cancer.

It can help to tell someone close to you how you’re feeling. Sharing your worries can mean they don’t seem so overwhelming. Many people find it helpful to have counselling during or after cancer treatment.

You can also find people to share experiences with by using our online forum, CancerChat.