After treatment, all patients with esophageal cancer need to have regular follow-ups. Many patients feel that after treatment is over, what is the point of going to the hospital all the time, which is a very wrong concept. In fact, regular follow-up after treatment is a very important part of the whole treatment of esophageal cancer patients, which can detect problems in the previous treatment and early detection of recurrence and metastasis of esophageal cancer, which also helps to achieve “early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment”.
The frequency of follow-up visits and tests depend on the stage of esophageal cancer, the treatment received, and the patient’s general condition (e.g., whether there are eating disorders, malnutrition, etc.). Overall, recurrence of esophageal cancer peaks 2 to 3 years after surgery, with 75% of patients with esophageal cancer experiencing recurrence 2 years after surgery. Therefore, patients need to be followed up every 3 to 6 months for the first 2 to 3 years after the end of treatment to detect recurrence and treatment complications in a timely manner, and then it can be extended to 1-2 times per year.
Follow-up visits focus on checking for recurrence of esophageal cancer, metastases to other sites, assessing delayed physical and psychological adverse effects, and noting the development of a second primary tumor, so physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging, and gastroscopy are usually performed.
In addition, the physician will provide lifestyle advice based on the patient’s comorbidities and general health status. Regular follow-up helps to detect recurrent metastases of esophageal cancer early for early intervention, helps to detect second primary tumors, can improve treatment-related adverse effects, and helps patients with esophageal cancer to achieve a healthier lifestyle and a better sense of control over themselves.