Cancer Survivors Network

Welcome to this group. You are now ten months post diagnosis and so assume you are moving into that difficult phase where active treatment is stopping and it is now about monitoring. I personally found that transition very difficult to make- it almost felt like I was no longer actively fighting the cancer and took a while to adapt. It is often this time that people look at lifestyle changes or complementary treatments I think partly to give the sense they are still actively fighting.

There is no specific protocol for patients as to what to do when. It partly depends on what is most relevant to you eg whether cea is a useful marker for you. Most will have bloods and a ct or MRI six monthly initially spreading out after a couple of years to twelve monthly til five years. Sadly the evidence doesn't show that it affects outcomes much so being vigilant for signs of relapse is important.

It is also a time of regaining some control over your life and reclaiming some normality again which takes time but is hugely important.

I hope things go well and would like to hear how things go for you.

Steve