title: [Follow-up after oncological surgery].
abstract: After an operative and adjuvant treatment of solid tumours there are a number of reasons for follow-up: treatment of the functional and psychological results of the therapy, quality control with respect to the treatment, screening for metachronous tumours, reassuring the patient, and the detection of asymptomatic recurrences. Most follow-up schedules are based on the probability of a recurrence and not on the effectiveness of possible interventions. Negative effects are false positive test results, morbidity and even mortality due to a new intervention, and the knowledge that there is a recurrence for which in the absence of complaints no effective treatment is possible. In the ideal situation every patient should have a personal monitoring schedule based on the aforementioned considerations whilst taking into account comorbidity and the patient's wishes. This documented agreement should state the frequency of the follow-up visits, the type of examination and the person responsible for carrying out the monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Ziekenhuis, afd. Heelkunde/Chirurgische Oncologie, Postbus 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen. t.wiggers@chir.azg.nl
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wiggers
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D009426:Netherlands; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
vernacular_title: Follow-up na oncologische chirurgie.