I've been for my final check up appointment at the hospital today and they've agreed to discharge me on the condition that if I have a problem I contact them.
First of all she asked if I'm happy to wait six months for my next check up. My reply was I'd be happy not to come back at all unless there's a problem. She said that's fine, I will discharge you then.
Apparently my hospital are reviewing the follow ups after cc treatment and some feel that when scans are clear for a certain amount of time there is no need for an internal examination and to travel for nearly an hour only to be asked if everything is OK seems to be a waste of both patient and consultant time.
Obviously this doesn't mean that the cc won't come back at some point but for now, I don't have to go back.
Very mixed emotions, happy mostly but also a little bit scared xxx
This forum has been an absolute godsend and I'll still be checking in daily xx
That's fantastic news! But I do know exactly how you feel. The consultants and the whole oncology dept feel practically like family by now, and being told it's OK to toddle off all by yourself into the sunset does indeed come with a mixed bag of emotions.
The crucial point in this is that if you have a problem, you contact them, not your GP. No waiting for a referral from someone who doesn't have the specialisms that their team has. I guess it's like leaving home to go to university in another city - if you're OK and happy and you settle in well then that's fine, but if you get anxious about anything you can always call your folks back home for some comforting.
I remember when you were just a little duckling! And now look at you! Swimming right across the pond all by yourself :-) You're going to be fine!
Hi Philleepa well done - such fantastic news and hopefully newer members to this group can take hope and inspiration from your story.
I'm curious about this new thinking - another lady wrote something similar a short time ago. I'm coming up to 3year anniversary of treatment finishing (2b) and due a 6mth check up. Wonder if this thinking is localised or rolling out nationally?
As I recall, Philleepa's team took a different approach from just about everyone else's. I'd like to think that their successes show a forward-thinking approach which will be adopted by others
Thanks everyone x Tivoli, it's so lovely to hear from you, you were so good to me when I was that little duckling. I'll be forever greatful to you for helping hold me together when my world was crumbling apart.
MME I think my hospital still do regular checks up to 5 years but they are reviewing it. The consultant agreed with me that as they don't scan after the first year or do internals it seems a waste of everyone's time to go and I should only go if I have any unusual symptoms such as bleeding or pain in that area. She said if I do have that, just to phone and they'll get me seen at the next clinic. They are wonderful but I hope I've seen the back of them xx
Tivoli is right about my treatment being different to just about everyone else's I have ever read about. I had 20 radiotherapy, 4 chemo and 2 long brachytherapy. I didn't need a full bladder and I wasn't advised to avoid scented creams etc x
