After active treatment, care for persons with bile duct cancer does not cease. Your doctor will continue to examine your general health and check to see whether cancer has returned. This is referred to as follow-up care, says Dr Sanjoy Mandal, the best gastro surgeon in Kolkata.
Regular physical examinations, medical testing, or both can be part of your follow-up treatment. Doctors monitor your progress in the next months and years. Researchers are looking for ways to avoid recurrences, but there is currently no conventional preventive therapy for bile duct cancer.
Cancer rehabilitation can be advised, including physical therapy, pain management, dietary planning, and emotional counseling. The purpose of rehabilitation is to assist people in regaining control of many parts of their life and remaining as self-sufficient as possible.
Follow-up care after bile duct cancer treatment
Watching for a recurrence
One purpose of follow-up care is to look for recurrence, which suggests cancer has returned. Cancer recurs because cancer cells in the body might stay undiagnosed. These cells may multiply over time until they appear on test results or generate signs or symptoms. A doctor knowledgeable about your medical history can provide specific information regarding your risk of recurrence during follow-up care, says the best gastroenterology doctor in Kolkata.
Your doctor will ask you detailed health-related questions. Some patients may get blood tests or imaging tests as part of routine follow-up care. However, testing recommendations are based on a variety of criteria, including the kind and stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis, as well as the type of therapy received.
Long-term and late side effects management
The majority of people anticipate experiencing adverse side-effects after undergoing therapy. However, it is common for survivors to be surprised that certain adverse side-effects can last beyond the treatment term. These are referred to as long-term adverse side-effects. Other side effects, known as late side-effects, might appear months or even years later. Both physical and mental changes might occur in the long term and late impacts. These side-effects are managed by your doctor during the follow-up care with the help of medication, says the gastroenterologist.
Maintaining personal health records
You and your doctor should collaborate to create a customized follow-up care plan. Discuss any worries you have regarding your physical or mental health in the future.
Some survivors continue to visit their oncologist, while others return to their primary care physician or another health care expert. This decision is influenced by several factors, including the kind and stage of cancer, side effects, health insurance policies, and your personal preferences.
If a doctor who was not directly engaged in your cancer care will be in charge of your follow-up care, make sure you share your cancer treatment summary and survivorship care plan forms with them and all future health care providers. Details regarding your cancer treatment are beneficial to the medical experts who will care for you for the rest of your life. For more details, contact Dr Sanjoy Mandal, a gastrointestinal surgeon in Kolkata.