Stomach Cancer (cont.)
Follow-up care
Follow-up care after treatment for stomach cancer is important. Even when
there are no longer any signs of cancer, the disease sometimes returns because
undetected cancer cells remained somewhere in the body after treatment. Your
doctor will monitor your recovery and check for recurrence of the cancer.
Checkups help ensure that any changes in your health are noted and treated if
needed. Checkups may include a physical exam, lab tests, x-rays, CT scans,
endoscopy, or other tests. Between scheduled visits, you should contact the
doctor if you have any health problems.
Facing Forward Series: Life After Cancer Treatment is an NCI booklet for
people who have finished their treatment. It answers questions about follow-up
care and other concerns. It has tips for making the best use of medical visits.
It also suggests ways to talk with the doctor about making a plan of action for
recovery and future health.
Complementary and alternative medicine
Some people with cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM):
- An approach is generally called complementary medicine when it is used along
with standard treatment.
- An approach is called alternative medicine when it is
used instead of standard treatment.
Acupuncture, massage therapy, herbal
products, vitamins or special diets, visualization, meditation, and spiritual
healing are types of CAM.
Many people say that CAM helps them feel better. However, some types of CAM
may change the way standard treatment works. These changes could be harmful. And
some types of CAM could be harmful even if used alone. Before trying any type of
CAM, you should discuss its possible benefits and risks with your doctor.
Some types of CAM are expensive. Health insurance may not cover the cost.
NCI offers a booklet called Thinking About Complementary and Alternative
Medicine.
You also may request materials from the Federal Government's National Center
for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. You can reach their clearinghouse
toll-free at 1-888-644-6226 (voice) and 1-866-464-3615 (TTY). In addition, you
can visit the Center's Web site at http://www.nccam.nih.gov, or send an e-mail
to info@nccam.nih.gov.
You may want to ask your doctor these questions about CAM:
- What benefits can I expect from this approach?
- What are its risks?
- Do the
expected benefits outweigh the risks?
- What side effects should I watch for?
- Will
CAM change the way my cancer treatment works? Could this be harmful?
- Is this
approach under study in a clinical trial? If so, who sponsors the trial?
- Will my
health insurance pay for this approach?
|
Next: What support is there for cancer patients? »
- granisetron transdermal system (patch), Sancuso - Learn about granisetron transdermal system (patch) (Sancuso), prescribed for the prevention of nausea and vomiting as a result of chemotherapy cancer treatment. Side effects, drug interactions, and dosage information is included.
- CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) - CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography, CAT scan) is a procedure that assists in diagnosing tumors, fractures, bony structures, and infections in the organs and tissues of the body.
- Abdominal Pain - Learn about abdominal pain (pain in the stomach / abdomen) including causes, symptoms, how abdominal pain is diagnosed, and how abdominal pain is treated.
Latest Medical News
Cancer RSS