As time goes by the length between visits usually increases to every three months in the second year, until by the time five years have passed your child may only need to be seen once a year.
The main purpose of a follow-up visit is so the doctor can give your child a general check up and arrange any tests they think are needed. Your child will be weighed and measured at each visit, to check they are growing normally. Blood counts are checked until they have returned to normal, possibly longer if your child had leukaemia.
Initially these will be to check that there are no signs of the cancer coming back. The frequency of scans, X-rays and other investigations will depend on the treatment your child has had. Your doctor will explain this in more detail. As time passes the visits increasingly focus on making sure that any long-term side effects of the treatment are found and, if necessary, treated. The chance of cancer returning lessens as time passes.
To begin with, you may find it difficult not to worry every time your child is unwell, even though the most likely cause is a normal childhood illness. This is perfectly natural and will hopefully reduce over time.
This is understandably a common question. Most children won’t have any problems, but there are a few potential things to look out for:
A few children are left with disabilities as a result of their cancer or treatment and may not be able to do all they could before, but generally your child should be encouraged to return to normal activities, as soon as they feel or are able to. If your child has been left with a disability, returning to life as before can be very difficult.
Some children feel very tired after certain treatments but the majority will recover within a few months of finishing treatment. When children first finish treatment they often feel tired because they are not as strong as before, they may have lost weight and they are not used to joining in all their usual activities. It takes time to build up their stamina. This is helped by eating a good balanced diet and introducing activities gradually. Each child is different but hopefully all children are soon able to attend school full time and join in sport.
This depends on a number of things, including the treatment your child had. Follow-up often goes on for many years due to effects being long-term, or presenting some time down the line. It may be necessary to have scans or occasional blood tests.
This information was written by the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG)
We first met Naa in 2016 when she was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumour at 7 years old. In 2021 the cancer returned and Naa underwent treatment again. She has battled cancer twice and is now back in school.
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Read moreRead more about our catch-up with Rebecca after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana six years ago.
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Read moreMeet Franklyn, now 17, who is fully recovered from cancer and dreams of becoming a doctor to help others
Read moreRebecca is now able to return to school after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana
Read morePrince went on to become a childhood cancer advocate and help many other children just like him when he recovered from leukaemia. Read More
Read moreMeet Estaphanie, who is excited to start university after being forced to take time out of school following a cancer diagnosis
Read moreBulu is looking forward to following in his brother’s footsteps getting back on the football field
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