This page explains what happens when your sarcoma treatment finishes. It includes information about what to expect and the follow-up care you may receive.
Finishing treatment can be a big change. You might feel relieved that treatment has ended. You might also feel worried about the future or unsure about what happens next. Your recovery will depend on the type of sarcoma you had and the treatment you received.
You may find that:
- your energy levels have changed
- you need time to build up your strength
- you have ongoing pain or other side effects
- you need to make changes to your daily routine
- you feel differently about your body
- you are not ready to return to work or education straight away.
There is no set amount of time for recovery, and everyone is different. Some people need ongoing treatment or care after their main treatment has finished. Your healthcare team can tell you what to expect and what support is available.
We have more information about rehabilitation for sarcoma, including the specialist rehabilitation you can have before, during, and after sarcoma treatment.
How you might feel when treatment finishes
Many people have mixed feelings when treatment finishes. These feelings are common, and there is no right or wrong way to feel.
During treatment, you may have built up a community of people around you. When treatment finishes, you may see these people less often. You might miss them or feel that you have lost support.
You might also feel guilty about sharing good news with people you met during treatment, especially if they are having a difficult time. This is a common feeling. It does not mean you have done anything wrong.
Some people feel a sense of loss for things that have changed because of sarcoma. This might include your job, your usual routine or the person you were before your diagnosis. It can take time to adjust to these changes.
Visit our mental health and sarcoma information for advice and support for managing difficult feelings, including anxiety, fear of recurrence, loneliness, body image and self-esteem.
After major surgeries and a long physical recovery, I found myself waiting for that magical ‘it’s over’ moment, feeling like I needed a big holiday, special treat or milestone to finally close that chapter and ‘get back to normal’. But I soon realised these things didn’t bring the happiness, gratitude or sense of closure I’d expected. The overwhelming reality of the situation and fear about the future was still very much there! My advice is not to put pressure on yourself to feel a certain way, within a certain timescale, or to rush back to normality. I don’t know if I will ever feel the way I felt before sarcoma, but I am still going to try! Give yourself time, seek support if you need it, and gradually find your way back to everyday life and the things you enjoy. It’s okay if moving on doesn’t feel quite how you imagined it would!
Kimberley, who was diagnosed with uterine sarcoma.
Follow-up care
After your treatment, you will have follow-up appointments with your healthcare team.
Your follow-up plan will depend on your type of sarcoma, where it was in your body, its grade, and the treatment you had.
What happens at follow-up appointments?
During follow-up, you may:
- talk about how you are feeling and any new or ongoing symptoms
- have a physical examination
- have scans or other tests
- talk about how you are recovering from treatment
- discuss any problems with movement, pain or other long-term effects
- ask questions or talk about anything you are worried about.
Your healthcare team may also check how well any surgery, reconstruction or prosthesis, such as an artificial limb or joint, is working.
You may have scans as part of your follow-up. These could include:
- a chest X-ray or CT scan to check your lungs
- an MRI or CT scan to check the area where your sarcoma was
- other scans or tests, depending on your type of sarcoma and treatment.
You will not need every type of scan. Your healthcare team will explain which tests you need and why.
How often will I have follow-up appointments?
How often you have follow-up appointments will depend on your type of sarcoma, its grade, where it was in your body and the treatment you had.
Follow-up is usually more frequent in the first couple of years and becomes less frequent over time.
Where will I have my follow-up?
Your follow-up appointments may be at your specialist sarcoma centre or another hospital, depending on your treatment and local services.
Your care may involve different healthcare professionals, including members of your sarcoma team and other specialists.
What should I do if I notice symptoms between appointments?
Contact your GP or healthcare team if you notice a new lump, swelling, pain or other change where your sarcoma was, or if you have any other concerns about your health.
You do not need to wait for your next follow-up appointment if you notice a new or unusual change.
Ask your healthcare team what symptoms to look out for between appointments. This may include changes where your sarcoma was, or new symptoms elsewhere in your body, such as a cough that does not go away.
Waiting for scan results
The fear or worry you may feel before scans or while waiting for results is sometimes called scan anxiety or ‘scanxiety’. This can be common during follow-up care for sarcoma. Sometimes this worry can become overwhelming. If this happens, talk to your healthcare team about how you are feeling.
Some people find it helps to have a clear plan for when and how they will get their results. Talk to your healthcare team about what would work best for you and what your team is able to offer. Together, you can agree a plan for sharing your results that feels as manageable as possible.
We have information that can help support you with scanxiety and fear of recurrence.
You can also contact the Sarcoma UK Support Line to talk to a member of our specialist team.
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Last reviewed November 2026 | Next review due November 2029
All references are available upon request. Please email info@sarcoma.org.uk
