Visiting the clinic for check-ups
Once you’re in remission with indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), it is important that you keep going to the clinic for regular check-ups so that your healthcare team can accurately keep track of your progress.
This will allow them to reassure you about how you’re doing, answer any questions you may have, and help you make sure you’re looking after yourself properly.
But, most importantly, if you do start to experience symptoms again, or if your NHL begins to show signs of relapse, they will be able to catch it early and do something about it as soon as possible.
How often will I need to go for check-ups?
- How often you have a check-up after treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) depends on a range of factors, such as the type of NHL you have, exactly what treatment you were given and your overall health and response to therapy.
- At first, you will probably be seen at the specialist clinic or doctor’s office at least every month. If good progress is being made, the time between appointments will be gradually increased until your check-ups are every 3–6 months, or even once a year.
- You will probably be asked to attend the clinic or doctor’s office for check-ups like this over the long term, perhaps indefinitely, even if there is no sign of lymphoma. This is so that you and your healthcare team can make sure that you are staying well.
What will happen at my check-up visits?
- Your check-up appointments are a chance for your doctor to find out how everything has been since your last visit, and monitor how well your treatment went.
- Your doctor will ask you lots of questions about how you’re feeling and how you are coping, and will perform a physical examination.
- Tests may also be performed or arranged. Some of these tests may be the same as the staging tests that were performed when your non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was first diagnosed. They may include CT (computerised tomography) scans or PET (positron emission tomography) scans that can check your body for any signs of lymphoma, as well as blood tests. These repeat tests are a way of checking whether the lymphoma is relapsing or growing.
- Remember that, just as importantly, these appointments are a chance for you to talk about any concerns that you might have, and raise any questions with your doctor and other health professionals on your healthcare team.
- Some people can find it quite stressful to go for a check-up during remission since it reminds them of their NHL. This is completely understandable as you may be worried that the doctor is going to give you bad news. However, you should see check-ups as a positive thing:
- Check-ups are a chance to be reassured that you’re still doing well and a safety net to catch the first signs of a relapse, should it occur
- They are also the ideal time for you to tell your doctor about any remaining symptoms you have so that they can help you manage them
- Check-ups are also a great chance to talk about any worries or concerns that you might have
- If you are worried about your check-up visit, or are concerned that you may forget things that you are told, think about taking a friend or family member along for support.
Remember to prepare yourself for your check-up visits
It can be difficult to remember all the questions that you want to ask, especially when you will be talking about many different things during the appointment.
Writing questions down before you go will make this much easier and help make sure that you don’t forget anything. Writing down the answers or other notes during the visit can also help you remember things you might need to know. So you might like to think about having a notepad and pen with you.
You should also think about what the doctors might ask you during your check-up so that you can think about taking any relevant information with you. It is also important that you remember to take everything with you that you were asked to take, such as any medical records or test results that you are in charge of.