The pros and the cons of follow up after surgery for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer has become the third most common cause of cancer death in Poland for both men and women. The article presents follow up regimes for patients operated for colorectal cancer, adopted at the Surgical Institution in Poznan, Poland. Tumour location, sphincter saving procedures and operations accomplished with stoma formation demand different follow up protocols. Between the years 1989 and 1996 curative resections of colorectal cancer were performed in 501 patients. Local recurrences were detected in 115 patients (in 68 with rectal cancer and in 47 with colon cancer). Surgery for local recurrences was curative in 53 patients and cytoreduction was performed in 62 patients. The authors recommend follow up of the patients for at least five years after the operation. Any symptom that may suggest the relapse should be thoroughly investigated with the available diagnostic measures.