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Questions concerning scheduling after completion of treatment

vchildbeloved
vchildbeloved CSN Member Posts: 133
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello everyone. Haven't been here for awhile. Stage 3 colon cancer, 1 positive node aout of 18. Just completed my 12 rounds of Oxal. 5fu and Leucovorin. Will have a CT scan with bloodwork on Jan. 8th and also see my onc for first follow-up. He then said that I will continue that same routine every six months thereafter for the next five years. Is that a pretty standard schedule? I've heard of some people being seen every 3 months.

Thanks, Valere
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Comments

  • ldot123
    ldot123 CSN Member Posts: 272
    #2
    Everyone's different
    Hi there,

    It seems that there is a slightly different follow up protocol depending on where one lives. I am in Canada and I was stage 3, 2 nodes involvement, and got bloodwork every three months with an ultrasound followup shortly after finishing chemo and then another a year later. I am about to have a CT scan and bloodwork and hopefully if all is clear I will then start going every 6 months for check ups. In the USA it seems that a lot of folks get way more CT scans as follow up. Is that just my imagination.

    Cheers,
    Lance
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  • dixchi
    dixchi CSN Member Posts: 431
    #3
    ldot123 said:

    Everyone's different
    Hi there,

    It seems that there is a slightly different follow up protocol depending on where one lives. I am in Canada and I was stage 3, 2 nodes involvement, and got bloodwork every three months with an ultrasound followup shortly after finishing chemo and then another a year later. I am about to have a CT scan and bloodwork and hopefully if all is clear I will then start going every 6 months for check ups. In the USA it seems that a lot of folks get way more CT scans as follow up. Is that just my imagination.

    Cheers,
    Lance

    follow up
    I agree, it seems to be individually based....in my caes with recurrence to liver from
    Stage 2 colon diagnosed in 2004, I will be scanned every two to three months for the next
    two years (am not concentrating on side effects of so many scans since this is priority).
    When I was still Stage 2, I got scanned every six months.
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  • claud1951
    claud1951 CSN Member Posts: 424 Member
    #4
    About right
    Valere,

    I was stage 3 w/2 nodes. I saw the Doc every 3 months (only did that 2 times) then I talked him into every 6 months (which I have my 6 month check up this week). I was doing so well that he said that would be fine. This will be 1 year since chemo stopped. Will find out how often it will be after Friday. I don't get any scans just blood work. I have gotten a colonoscopy for the last 2 years at my request.

    Again, I'll find out (if it's okay) if I should wait a little longer for the next one.

    Congrats on finishing up with Chemo.

    Life is good

    Claudia
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