Post operation meeting

[Calboy]

Hi all can some one help me please my mum had the Ivor Lewis operation a couple of months ago ... Today she had her post operation discussion and her surgeon said she will not be scanned to keep a check on things this doesn't sound right to me or is it standard practise ...

[phil]

Hi This is standard practice not to scan and nothing to worry about. She will have appointments with her consultant every 6 months in the first 2 years and after that every 12 months for 5 years. Then she will be discharged so best wishes to your Mum

[Calboy in reply to phil]

Thanks for ur reply ... I think that's mad I thought she would had been checked and scanned all the time

[phil in reply to Calboy]

A Scan packs a mega dose of radiation as much as 500 times than a a conventional Xray.

Doing that at regular check ups would do more harm than good. Personally I was pleased I did not have to have any ,but if the consultant suspects any problems she will scan

Phil

[Calboy in reply to phil]

Thanks Phil

[ANichol]

Standard not to scan, having said that if any signs, symptoms, worries they will. Hubby just had scan one year on, relieved to say got the all clear ! Wishing your mum well x

[Alan_M]

There is a trend for follow-up appointments to be geared towards the individual and their concerns, so in some hospitals it might be much more related, say, to digestion and nutrition, depending on progress, rather than, say, a routine scan.

[Hidden]

Know what you mean about radiation etc but my mum’s leak from op not noticed until 3/4 months after, sadly too late for her. I think patients should be extremely carefully monitored after such a life changing and challenging op, don’t mean to depress anyone but we had to push so hard for recognition of worsening symptoms, all put down to op itself. X

[Mentalmicky6]

I'v never been scanned since my Ivor Lewis six years ago, I'v always had tumor marker blood tests once a year recently

[Rayslife]

Its been three years since I had this op and I have never had a scan since.

Every body asks me are you clear now? well, certainly not based upon further scanning as you simply dont get them unless you are getting BIG problems, I guess?

I had my appointment brought forward just this month because of additional and further discomfort!!

You guessed, no scan to be given! he just said "This is the way it is now, your body works very different now so get used to it"

I think the word MONEY and RESOURCES comes to mind?

Good luck.

[Calboy in reply to Rayslife]

Your not wrong there... All the best to you

[Spikey in reply to Calboy]

I do not believe it is a question of money. As others have already said, it is because of the harm done by the radiation. An oncologist friend of mine told me several years ago that he was starting to see patients coming back to him after 10 years complaining of long-term side effects caused by chemotherapy and repeated scans.

In my own case, I had my oesophagectomy nearly 12 years ago, when they still did annual follow-up scans. I opted not to have them, as I didn't want to spend the next five years worrying about the results of my next scan.

I hope your mum is making good progress.

[Calboy in reply to Spikey]

Thank u mate ... Yes she is getting there bless her

[grandylynda]

I was told no scans also although I did have one early on when there was a problem.

The reason given was the massive dose of radiation. I think they only do it if they feel it necessary, not as routine. Hope your Mum does well now

[Calboy in reply to grandylynda]

Thank you

[strangetimes]

I was told that statistically having scans was found not to improve outcome - ie made no difference to re occurance .

I would have liked to have been seen every 6 or 12 months by the consultant ,but this wasn't offered .I could have requested it via the upper G I clinic that I did attend .But that did act as a kind of triage and I doubt if it would have been considered justified by my concerns . But I'm really bad at expressing myself in such circumstances .

I have felt at a loss and wished for more than the very limited follow up .And I wish what follow up care was more holistic ,but that's always wished for I know .And how to achieve it ?

[Hidden]

Hi, im 3 months post op, save op ,, and none scan etc so far.. I see the Surgeons Oct, be 4 mths post op,,,, ill ask then,, will they can me, will see what they say/

[Hidden]

HI, not been on here for some time,, due to eating problems and pain in the place i had b4 cancer found,, they did another scan for me, thank god it was clear of Cancer,.,this was Jan 2019, was diagnosed Jan 2018, OP was in May 2018.. Im just over a year since my OP,,,Still have eating problems, is this the same with everyone????

I eat better, and have put on 3 kilos ( half stone) they are happy with that,, but i dont want to get fat again,, but they say thats not possible,,,

Still cant eat meat,, i can do pasta, bread, cereals,,, but meat, rice, fruit, is still problem,, had many problems with bile, phelm,, or whatever, as when ate was often bringing it up after...that thank god seems to have stopped,