After treatment, all patients with gastric cancer need to have regular follow-up. This is a very misconception that many patients feel that they should always go to the hospital when they are done with their disease. In fact, regular follow-up after treatment is a very important part of the whole treatment of gastric cancer patients, which can detect problems in the previous treatment and early detection of recurrence and metastasis of gastric 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 the cancer, the treatment received, and the patient’s physical condition (e.g., anemia, malnutrition, etc.). Overall, the peak recurrence of gastric cancer is 2 to 3 years after surgery, with most patients experiencing recurrence 14 to 29 months after surgery, and less than 10% of patients recurring 5 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 gastric 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 provides lifestyle advice based on the patient’s comorbidities and general health status. Regular follow-up helps identify recurrent metastases for early intervention, helps detect second primary tumors, can improve treatment-related adverse effects, and helps patients with gastric cancer achieve a healthier lifestyle and a better sense of control over themselves.