Colon Cancer Information
Recovery & Follow up
Follow up is an important part of the colon cancer care process. The health care team makes every effort to help the patient return to normal activities as soon as possible.
A person with a stoma needs to learn to care for it. Doctors, nurses, and enterostomal therapists can help. Often, enterostomal therapists visit the person before surgery to discuss what to expect. They teach the person about stoma care after surgery. They talk about lifestyle issues, including emotional, physical, and sexual concerns. Often they can provide information about resources and support groups for those recovering from colon cancer.
Regular checkups ensure that changes in health are noticed. If the cancer returns or a new cancer develops, it can be treated as soon as possible. Checkups may include a physical exam, a fecal occult blood test, a colonoscopy, chest x-rays, and lab tests. Between scheduled checkups, a person who has had colon cancer should report any health problems to the doctor as soon as they appear.
