Follow-up after treatment for primary bone cancer

After your treatment is over your doctor will want you to have regular check-ups at the hospital outpatient department.

At the check-ups the doctor will ask you about your general health. He will want to know if you have any problems related to the treatments you’ve had or if you’re experiencing any symptoms. You may also have blood tests taken and some people will have chest x-rays to check their lungs for any signs of cancer.

The checks usually continue for several years. If you have any problems, or notice any new symptoms between these times, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. The gaps between your appointments will get longer as the years go on. This is because the chance of the cancer coming back steadily gets less. For many people with early-stage bone cancer it will never come back.

What if the cancer comes back?

If cancer comes back in the lungs or in a bone, an operation to remove all of the cancer may sometimes be possible. This would be done to try to cure the cancer. Chemotherapy may be given before and after the operation.

If it isn’t possible to cure the cancer, treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be given to control the cancer for as long as possible and to help relieve any symptoms.

Living with and after cancer

Cancer can affect many areas of your life such as your finances, work, your emotions and relationships. Find information and advice about what the effects might be, how to deal with them and how we can help.

Financial support

Find practical advice on the possible financial impact of a cancer diagnosis, including what benefits you might be entitled to.

Practical issues

Information on dealing with day-to-day problems, including work, travel, and travel insurance.

Emotional effects

Information on the emotions you might experience as a result of your cancer diagnosis, ways that you might manage them and other sources of support.

Emotional effects

A diagnosis of cancer often means we experience a whole range of emotions. These may include shock, anxiety , sadness , relief, uncertainty and for some people, depression . This section gives information on some of the emotions you may have and aims to help you manage them. It includes suggestions of how you can help yourself as well as other sources of help and support.

Relationships and communication

Advice on how to talk to other people, talking to children, relationships and sexuality.

Note: JASCAP has booklets on these subjects.