How to take care after colorectal cancer surgery?

Care for people detected with colorectal cancer does not end with the completion of treatment. It is further followed by a recovery process. After getting diagnosed, if you are treated with colorectal cancer surgery, you must continue doing health assessments and avoid the recurrence of colorectal cancer.

Your follow-up care after colorectal cancer treatment may involve regular medical tests, physical examination or both. Every colorectal cancer doctor wants to keep track of your recovery every month. Follow-up care is essential, especially for the first five years after colorectal cancer treatment, because this is when the risk of recurrence of colorectal cancer is very high.

Recommended follow-up care:

A colon and rectal cancer doctor in kolkata recommends how often you need to have tests on the basis of the risk of recurrence and your overall health status. Generally, it is common for a rectal cancer patient to visit the doctor to receive follow-up screening every three to six months for the first five years after colorectal cancer surgery. Every individual has a different risk of recurrence. Hence, it is important to talk with your doctor about the probability of cancer coming back.

Here is a breakup of follow-up tests you need to undergo for the first five years after colorectal cancer treatment:

Follow-up testing in the first year after colorectal cancer treatment:

• Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) testing and other physical examinations every three to six months.
• Chest and abdominal computed tomography scan (CT scan) every six to twelve months.
• Pelvic CT scan for people with rectal cancer every six to twelve months.
• Colonoscopy.
• Rectosigmoidoscopy every six months for rectal cancer patients who did not have radiation therapy to the pelvis.

Follow-up testing in the 2nd year:

• CEA testing and other physical examinations every three to six months.
• CT scan
• Rectosigmoidoscopy.

Follow-up testing in 3rd year:

• CEA testing every three to six months.
• CT scan.
• Rectosigmoidoscopy.

Follow-up testing in 4th year:

• CEA testing every three to six months.
• CT scan every six to twelve months.
• Rectosigmoidoscopy every six months.

Follow-up testing in 5th year:

• CEA every three to six months.
• Pelvic CT scan every twelve months.
• Rectosigmoidoscopy every six months

These are some important follow-up care you need to keep in mind after completing colorectal cancer treatment. With every test, you must take advice from your doctor and attend every post-operative visit. It’s always good to take regular follow-up instructions after undergoing colorectal cancer surgery that can help you avoid the risk of recurrence of colorectal cancer.

Source: Patient’s review:

“As per the doctor’s point my mother’s surgery was a bit difficult and troublesome, I am thankful to Dr. Bhowmik, he has done a magical job and made our satisfaction up to the fullest .
My mother is completely fine now.”