Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Peritoneal Cancer: Follow-Up Care

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 10/2022

ON THIS PAGE: You will read about your medical care after cancer treatment is completed and why this follow-up care is important. Use the menu to see other pages.

Care for people diagnosed with cancer does not end when active treatment has finished. Your health care team will continue to check that the cancer has not come back, manage any side effects, and monitor your overall health. This is called follow-up care.

Your follow-up care for ovarian/fallopian tube cancer may include regular physical examinations, medical tests, or both. Doctors want to keep track of your recovery in the months and years ahead.

Although there are no specific guidelines for follow-up care for people treated for ovarian/fallopian tube/peritoneal cancer, many doctors recommend a pelvic examination every 2 to 4 months for the first 4 years after treatment and then every 6 months for the next 3 years. For all 3 cancers, other tests may include x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, ultrasound studies, and blood tests, such as a CA-125 test.

People treated for ovarian/fallopian tube cancer may have an increased risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, or Lynch syndrome (for certain types of ovarian/fallopian tube cancer). Talk with your doctor about whether screening tests for these medical conditions is recommended for you.

Any new problem should be reported to your doctor, including pain, loss of appetite or weight, changes in your menstrual cycle, unusual vaginal bleeding, urinary problems, blurred vision, dizziness, coughing, hoarseness, headaches, backaches or abdominal pain, bloating, difficulty eating, or digestive problems that seem unusual or do not go away. These symptoms may be signs that the cancer has come back or signs of another medical condition.

Cancer rehabilitation after treatment may be recommended, and this could mean any of a wide range of services, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, career counseling, pain management, nutritional planning, and/or emotional counseling. The goal of rehabilitation is to help people regain control over many aspects of their lives and remain as independent as possible. Learn more about cancer rehabilitation.

Learn more about the importance of follow-up care.

Watching for recurrence

One goal of follow-up care is to check for a recurrence, which means that the cancer has come back. Cancer recurs because small areas of cancer cells may remain undetected in the body. Over time, these cells may increase in number until they show up on test results or cause signs or symptoms. During follow-up care, a doctor familiar with your medical history can give you personalized information about your risk of recurrence. Your doctor will ask specific questions about your health. Some people may have blood tests or imaging tests done as part of regular follow-up care, but testing recommendations depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer first diagnosed and the types of treatment given.

The anticipation before having a follow-up test or waiting for test results may add stress to you or a family member. This is sometimes called “scanxiety.” Learn more about how to cope with this type of stress.

Managing long-term and late side effects

Most people expect to have side effects when receiving treatment. However, it is often surprising to survivors that some side effects may linger beyond the treatment period. These are called long-term side effects. Other side effects called late effects may develop months or even years after treatment has ended. Long-term and late effects can include both physical and emotional changes.

Talk with your doctor about your risk of developing such side effects based on your diagnosis, your individual treatment plan, and your overall health. If you had a treatment known to cause specific late effects, you may have certain physical examinations, scans, or blood tests to help find and manage them.

Keeping personal health records

You and your doctor should work together to develop a personalized follow-up care plan. Be sure to discuss any concerns you have about your future physical or emotional health. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) offers forms to help keep track of the cancer treatment you received and develop a survivorship care plan when treatment is completed.

This is a good time to talk with your doctor about who will lead your follow-up care. Some survivors continue to see their oncologist, while others transition back to the care of their primary care doctor or another health care professional. This decision depends on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, treatments received, side effects, health insurance rules, and your personal preferences.

If a doctor who was not directly involved in your cancer care will lead your follow-up care, be sure to share your cancer treatment summary and survivorship care plan forms with them and with all future health care providers. Details about your cancer treatment are very valuable to the health care professionals who will care for you throughout your lifetime.

The next section in this guide is Survivorship. It describes how to cope with challenges in everyday life after a cancer diagnosis. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.