Table 3

Long-term follow-up recommendations

Patients with benign disease and those who have undergone curative treatment for malignant diseasePatients undergoing palliative management
Anthropometric and functional assessment

  • Body weight

  • Grip strength

  • Mid-arm muscle circumference as appropriate

  • CT scans can be assessed for muscle mass if available

  • 6-min walk tests/sit-to-stand function tests if more detailed functional assessment is required

  • DXA scans should be carried out every 2 years

  • Body weight

  • Grip strength/mid-arm muscle circumference as appropriate

Clinical

  • Assessment of bowel symptoms: stool frequency, colour

  • Presence of abdominal bloating/wind

  • Postprandial abdominal pain

  • Factors impacting on QoL

  • Change in medication (especially opioids and anti-emetic/anti-diarrhoeal medications)

  • Compliance with treatment

  • Implementation of lifestyle advice (smoking, alcohol cessation, weight-bearing exercise, sunlight exposure)

  • Factors impacting on QoL

  • Assessment of bowel symptoms: stool frequency/colour

  • Presence of abdominal bloating/wind

  • Postprandial abdominal pain

  • Change in medication (especially opioids and antiemetic/antidiarrhoeal medications)

  • Compliance with treatment

Biochemical

  • Vitamin A, D, E

  • Clotting studies (vitamin K)

  • Parathyroid hormone

  • Magnesium

  • Zinc, copper, selenium

  • Full blood count and iron studies

  • Vitamin B12 and folate

  • ESR/CRP

  • Glucose and HbA1c

  • Full blood count, iron studies, CRP

  • Glucose and HbA1c

  • CRP, C reactive protein; DXA, dual X-ray absorptiometry; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HbA1c, haemoglobin A1c; QoL, quality of life.