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Colorectal Cancer: Post Treatment 6 Months +: Medical Care Stages II,III,IV

Follow Up Visits & Tests For Colon and Rectal Cancer

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Follow-up visits with your oncologist will continue.  The timing of  those visits, as well as what happens during those visits, varies depending on the treatment, your particular health situation and other individual factors.

As you review the following, keep in mind that blood test results generally vary from lab to lab. Exams can result in a false positive or false negative. Only additional testing or a biopsy is definitive.

At the least, a follow-up visit usually involves:

  • A review of your medical history
  • A thorough physical examination including a rectal examination (insertion of the gloved index finger into the rectum)
  • A discussion about your symptoms since the last visit (our Symptoms Diary can help keep track of symptoms from visit to visit. The push of a button turns the information into an easy to read graph. Click here 
  • Taking blood for blood tests such as the CEA or CA19-9 blood test. 
  • The doctor will likely order some follow-up tests. Common follow-up tests include:
    • Colonoscopy  (often recommended six months to one year after surgery)
    • Barium enema (a series of x rays of the colon or rectum that are taken after the patient is given an enema containing a contrast medium (usually barium sulfate). The contrast medium generally is described as tasting like chalk. Air can be instilled into the colon along with the barium contrast medium to further define structures of the large bowel and rectum.  Barium enemas are frequently replaced by a colonoscopy.
    • Chest x-rays 
    • If symptoms warrant, a CT scanMRI, or Ultrasound
    • Many doctors order a PET scan for the early detection of recurrent colorectal cancer.
  • A discussion period  to discuss with your doctor:
    • Your progress
    • Your questions and concerns. We provide a prioritizer to help you keep track of questions and concerns. A button reorders your entries before the appointment according to your priorities. For information about how to effectively work with a doctor, see “To Learn More.
    • The doctor’s concerns

NOTE: If results from an exam are negative, or if liver lesions or lung spots appear, keep in mind that only further testing or a biopsy is definitive.


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