It's 5 years since I had SCC surgery and my next 6 monthly appointment is in September. I have been wondering what the follow up procedure is at 5 years if all is well.

Those who are past 5 years (in UK in particular) are you put on annual checks or do the medical check up oncolgy visits cease altogether?

Hi Pauline
I was signed off after 5 Years but was given an open door policy which enabled me to attend if i thought anything was not right

Well done

Regards
Dave and Sue

It's been 2 years and 7 months since treatment ended. I am now down to 4 monthly appts for ENT and 6 monthly appts for RT Dept.
But they have an open door policy if you have a major worry which I did have last sept. I saw the ENT consultant within 3 days and had a CT/PET scan 2 weeks later. Everything, fortunately, was fine.
cheers Tony K

Thanks.

Yes mine also have an open door policy for between the 6 month checks. I confess I have used it at least 3 times. It is such a releif when there is a panic on and you can get an appointment fast.
I was just wondering what happened after the 5 years mark.

Congratulations on the 5 year mark!
That's brilliant, 5 years with no recourance! I bet it seems like a life time ago when you were in the thick of it. It does for me & i'm just 7 months down the line. It's amazing the way the mind lessens just how torturous it all was!

Hello Pauline

Congratulations on getting to the 5 year mark.

Unfortunately, that comforting annual visit for reassurance and a chat now gets stopped as visits to the hospital are now all about efficiency and the human factor has no place in this decision! You will be on your own but the open door policy will be in place, so use it when concerned as you used it before.

Thanks for helping out here.

Best wishes
Vinod (same mug!)

Thank you Vinod that's what I was wanting to find out. I'm not sure if I should feel reassured or alarmed. But I agree the open door policy is a comfort and I have always so far been given an appointment in a week.
Chelle there are certainly days when I forget it happened now. But as you know there are changes to our bodies that mean we never really forget.

I too in my 6th year I only go now once every 6 months but due to constant problems with my roting teeth im there quiet often to see the Dentist at MaxFax and my consultant told me any problem just make an apt to se him.
They are really so good to me at UCH LDN MaxFax and do all they can to help me but a social life is what I miss most and that you cannot get on prescription

Paul

A big hello to all my friends here,

I followed the routine of visiting my doctor for a year after which I decided I would never ever enter a hospital - whatever the circumstances and believe me its been now four years since I last made a trip. I have come to a conclusion that noone or nothing can make things better or worse and its just what is written will take place. I have had some crazy kind of luck with the way the cancer hit me and is still a part of me ( I am on peg feed for the last seven years ).
I gave very specific instructions that whatever happens to me as long as I am alive, nobody will ever call a doctor or take me to a hospital and so far its worked. Yes I do talk to my doctors, I email them - but nothing about cancer - just as friends. I know this sounds a bit pompous on my part but trust me its not so. I could never hit the kind of rock bottom that I did. I could never survive the pain I went through.
Thsi is not to advise that you all do not visit your doctors but just something I decided personaly and with a very clear mind.... and one last thing brfore I finish this post - I have removed all traces of gods etc. from my place. The only person I believe in destiny. I call destiny a person as one may term him as God. I have never met God and I do not know what heaven or hell looks like. I will find all this once I pass away but till then let the Almighty carry on with his saving the world and let me just be as I am. I am sory I sound like this but this the truth. I am not a hypocrite and say whats in my mind without thinking of the consequences. I truly hope this post of mine will not ruin my frienships and closness I feel to each one here and would do anything to help them if I could.
Warm regards to all,
Ananth

Take care all,
Ananth

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