Some physicians will recommend an annual chest X-ray to make sure your cancer has not spread to the lungs. Other tests, such as bone scans, CT scans, sonograms and MRIs are usually performed after treatment only when there is reason to suspect a recurrence. Most experts now feel that these tests, performed routinely, provide very little meaningful information and drive up the cost of medical care without saving lives. We are concerned with your overall health. We urge you not to neglect the possibility of other cancers such as, for women, breast, ovary and cervix, and for men, prostate cancer, where your risk is increased because of a personal history of colorectal cancer.
Early detection is more effective against breast, cervical and prostate cancer.
Please discuss cancer surveillance with your physician. If Colon Cancer Recurs When cancer develops in the colon or rectum itself, it is called a primary cancer. Any subsequent colon or rectal cancer near the original finding is called a local recurrence . If colon or rectal cancer cells are detected in other parts of the body, this is called metastasis , or distant recurrence. When this happens, systemic chemotherapy is the treatment of choice.