Follow up after treatment for bile duct cancer
After treatment for bile duct cancer, you might have regular follow up appointments. Or you may decide to only have an appointment if you have any problems or develop any new symptoms.
You may also have tests including blood tests and scans.
You usually have follow up appointments with your doctor or specialist nurse. You also normally see a 
.
Why you have follow up appointments
You usually have follow up appointments to check how you are and see whether you have any problems or worries. The appointments also give you the chance to raise any concerns you have about your progress.
If you had an operation to remove the cancer, your doctor will also check to make sure the cancer hasn’t come back.
How often are my follow up appointments?
How often you have follow up appointments can vary. This depends on if you had surgery to remove the bile duct cancer or if the cancer has spread. Cancer that has spread is called advanced or secondary cancer.
Your doctor will also arrange for you to see a dietitian. This is because bile duct cancer can make you lose your appetite and lose weight. And surgery to remove bile duct cancer can make it difficult for you to digest food.
If you had surgery to remove the cancer
You will have a follow up appointment after your operation to check you are recovering well.
After this you might have appointments every 3 to 6 months for the first 2 years. If there are no signs of the cancer coming back during this time, the appointments may change to every 6 to 12 months. This is normally for the next 3 years or longer.
Your doctor uses these appointments to check for signs of the cancer coming back. If it does, your doctor will talk with you about what treatment is best. And you will have follow up appointments more often again.
If you have advanced bile duct cancer
You might have follow up appointments every 2 to 3 months if you are having treatment for the cancer. This is to see how well the treatment is controlling the cancer and how it is making you feel.
If you have stopped having treatment, you may decide with your doctor that you only see them if you have any problems.
Symptom control team
Your doctor or specialist nurse will refer you to a local symptom control team or palliative care team. They see you or speak to you regularly and help you cope with symptoms. How often you see them depends on what symptoms you have and how well they are controlled.
What happens during your follow up appointments
Your doctor or specialist nurse usually examines you at each appointment. They ask how you are feeling, whether you have had any symptoms or side effects and if you are worried about anything.
You normally have some tests ready for your appointment. This can include:
- a CT scan of your chest, tummy (abdomen) and the area between your hips (pelvis)
- blood tests
A CT scan can show your doctor if the cancer has come back after surgery to remove it. If the cancer is advanced, a CT scan can show if the treatment is controlling the cancer.
Blood tests help check your general health, such as how well your liver is working.
Between appointments
Contact your doctor or specialist nurse if you have any concerns between appointments. You should also contact them if you notice any new symptoms. You don’t have to wait until your next visit.
How you might feel
You might find having follow up appointments quite worrying. And having scans to check the cancer can make some people feel anxious. You can talk this through with your doctor or specialist nurse. They can:
- reassure you
- explain how often you'll have follow ups
- explain why you're having follow ups as often as you are
- tell you about any support groups
It can help to tell someone close to you how you’re feeling about your appointments. And many people find it helpful to take someone they trust with them. Sharing your worries can mean they don’t seem so overwhelming. You may also find it helpful to see a counsellor.
Cancer Chat
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