Follow-up after treatment for ovarian cancer

Last medical review:

Follow-up care lets your healthcare team keep track of your health for a period of time after treatment ends. This important part of cancer care is often shared among the cancer specialists and your family doctor. They will help you recover from treatment side effects and monitor you for any signs that the cancer has come back (recurred).  

Follow-up care may not seem that important to you, especially if your treatment was long or very hard. You may find the idea of follow-up care stressful because it reminds you of your cancer experience or because you are worried about what a test might reveal. Talk to your healthcare team about how you feel and about why follow-up matters. Your healthcare team is there to help. 

Expert review and references

  • Laurie Elit, MD, MSc, FRCSC
  • American Cancer Society. Ovarian Cancer. 2018. https://www.cancer.org/.
  • Provincial Health Services Authority. Ovary - Epithelial Carcinoma. Vancouver, BC: 2024. https://www.bccancer.bc.ca/.
  • Filippova O.T, Stasenko M. Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) – Health Professional Version. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; https://www.cancer.gov/.
  • Martin VR, Stewart L. Ovarian Cancer. Yarbro CH, Wujcik D, Gobel B (eds.). Cancer Nursing: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Burlington, MA: Jone & Bartlett Learning; 2018: Kindle version, [chapter 63].

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