Follow-up care for bowel cancer

Follow-up care after treatment for bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is very important. Regular check-ups can help ensure that any changes in your health are noticed and, if the cancer returns, it can be treated as soon as possible.

How is a recurrence of bowel cancer detected?

As with any disease, early detection is important for successful treatment of a recurring bowel cancer. Being open with your doctor about any signs or symptoms, or changes in your health will help assess the risk of the cancer recurring. Open discussion with your doctor also has other benefits, such as providing an opportunity to discuss prevention, diet, new treatments and other health concerns.

Follow-up care after your treatment for bowel cancer will involve regular check-ups, which may include:

• Physical examinations. A regularly scheduled, routine physical examination is important to check for any signs of recurrence.
• Blood tests. You will probably have a blood test at each check-up with your specialist. These may include the "CEA" test.Some, but not all, cancers shed a protein called carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) into the bloodstream. This CEA protein can be a sign that bowel cancer has returned, although it may have other causes.
• A colonoscopy(a flexible tube with a small camera on the end is passed through your rectum into your bowel so that the doctor can examine the bowel lining).
• Scans, including CT scan, and liver ultrasound.

You will usually have a check-up six weeks after surgery and then every few months at first. If there are no problems, check-ups will become less frequent. If you are concerned, or have any symptoms, don’t wait until your next check-up to see your doctor.