Info
Cancer follow-up (surveillance)
Monitoring
What it means
Regular follow-up of the patient after active treatment has ended. It includes clinical consultations, imaging investigations and tests, at intervals set by the doctor. The aim is the early detection of a recurrence.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- CA-125
- A tumor marker specific to ovarian cancer. It is measured in the blood and is used to monitor how the disease responds to treatment and to detect a possible recurrence. Its level can also be raised in other, benign conditions.
- Cancer prevention
- The set of measures that reduce the risk of developing cancer: quitting smoking, a balanced diet, physical activity, limiting sun exposure and alcohol, HPV vaccination and taking part in screening programs.
- Cancer screening
- Regular tests carried out in healthy people to detect cancer at an early stage, before symptoms appear. Examples: mammography, Pap test, colonoscopy. It increases the chances of a complete cure.
Other terms in “Monitoring”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.