Personalised follow-up after surgery for sarcoma

After surgery, you will be offered essential follow-up with our personalised follow-up team. Regular follow-up is recommended, as sarcoma can come back, either in the original site or elsewhere in the body. Your clinical team would be happy to talk to you about the risk of the tumour coming back and how to look out for it.

Will include regular appointments and investigations.

How often you should be seen and what investigation you need depends on your diagnosis and treatment. Your team will talk to you about this. Please ask if you are unsure.

• Are usually in person at our Stanmore or Bolsover Street sites.

• Some specific appointments can be arranged by video or telephone call. If you have one of these appointments you need to be in an appropriate private place for a call, and have set aside adequate tim

• It is recommended that you bring a family member or friend to appointments, or have someone with you for a telephone/video appointment.

• Please prepare a list of any questions or concerns you may have.

• A pen and paper may be useful to write down information.

If you have also had chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment, your follow-up may be shared with your oncology centre.

We will always send you and your GP copies of your follow-up letters and documentation.

You will be reviewed in clinic by your Consultant or one of their team approximately 6 weeks after you leave hospital.

You will have a treatment review appointment approximately 3 months after surgery with the Personalised Cancer Care team. You will be seen by a:

• Specialist Physiotherapist or
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner & Occupational Therapist

You will also be offered a short self-assessment (holistic needs assessment) at this appointment. Please make sure you complete this questionnaire to help us to understand any concerns or questions you have.

Your follow-up care will continue with the most appropriate member of our specialist team. This allows us to offer you the best support and advice for your individual needs.

Our Cancer Support Workers work with the follow-up team to advise, support and direct you to the most appropriate information or support service. They are also a good ongoing contact for you if you have any questions or concerns.

You need to regularly self-monitor and let us know about any of the following:

• New pain, lump, swelling or changes around area of your original operation, or elsewhere
• Sudden unexplained changes especially in bladder and/or bowel function or the ability to use/ the feeling in your arms and/or legs
• Any other symptom such as unexplained breathlessness, weight loss, or other unusual symptom(s).

The sooner we know about a problem, the sooner we can see you and arrange appropriate investigations.

Contact us if you think your follow-up appointments:

• are not following your outlined schedule
• are delayed or overdue
• may be duplicated either at RNOH or with your oncology centre.

Please do not wait until your next appointment to let us know about any new concerns or worries.

If you have any worries or concerns about any aspect of your cancer diagnosis or surgical treatment, you can contact us by:

Phone: 020 3947 0458 / 020 8909 5878
​​​​​​​Email: rnoh.personalisedcancercare@nhs.net