People often need support and guidance after treatment has ended, to help adjust to changes in their everyday life. This can mean adjusting to different ways of speaking, eating and drinking, emotional changes, as well as new ways of focusing on your health and wellbeing to recover as fully as possible.
After treatment you will have regular contact with members of the multidisciplinary team. Reviews are generally scheduled, at regular intervals, for 5 years following treatment. These reviews are likely to be more often in the first 2 years after treatment, then less often for the remainder of your follow-up.
Often your head and neck team will encourage and educate you on how to actively take part in your follow-up care by recommending you to do self-checks. You’re the one with the best chance to see and know if things change. The link below will advise on what to look for, and provide you with easy instructions on how to check your mouth and neck.
Cancer treatment can have both shorter-term and longer-term effects, and people can experience a number of changes and sometimes challenges. For example:
- Physically, due to the effect of cancer and its treatment. This can impact your energy levels, how you eat, speak, or with lymphoedema (swelling of the face and neck)
- Emotionally, needing to adjust to changes in how your look and carry out everyday aspects of your life
- Financially, as household income can decrease
- Returning to the workplace.
If these side-effects or problems are not identified and managed, this can have an impact on the quality of life for both you and your family members. This section provides further information to help and support you and your family after treatment.