Follow Up After Colon and Rectal Cancer Treatment

Patients who have had surgery for their colon or rectal cancer and would be a candidate for further treatment if the cancer was found to have come back or spread to another location are recommended to have regular follow up and surveillance. The highest risk time for colon or rectal cancer to re-occur or to spread to another location is within the first 3 years after treatment.

The surveillance protocol is based on provincial guidelines and recommends:

• a check up with your doctor every 3 months for 3 years, and then every 6 months for 2 years after that, with an optional check up on a yearly basis after that depending on your age (more likely for patients diagnosed at age less than 60)

• regular blood tests to monitor a tumor marker called the Carcinoembryonic Antigen or CEA for short. You should do this blood test just before seeing your doctor for your regular check up.

• Colonoscopies to check the bowel. Colonoscopy is typically recommended 1 year after your cancer surgery, and then every 3-5 years after that depending on the findings of the test.

• CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis 2 to 3 times within the first 3 years after your surgery

International guidelines, or guidelines from other province may differ slightly on the timing or frequency of these follow up tests.