The management for patients with colon cancer differs according on the cancer's stage. Patients undergoing surgery for Stage 0 or Stage I colon cancer, for instance, might undergo a colonoscopy one year following the procedure, another three years later, and a third five years later.
A patient with Stage 0 or Stage 1 colon cancer might be able to postpone getting another colonoscopy for a few more years if the follow-up exams don't reveal any new cancerous growths. After receiving effective therapy for Stage II or Stage III colon cancer, patients should plan to see their doctor every three to six months for the first two years following treatment. Following surgery, patients are usually monitored for five years. Imaging tests, CEA blood tests, and colonoscopies are among the exams they might undergo.