Screening May Detect Return of Colon Cancer

Follow-up tests may help show when colon cancer has returned after surgery, a new study finds. The study included 1,200 people who had received colon cancer surgery. They were randomly divided into 4 groups. One group received regular CT scans. Another other group got regular tests for a blood protein, called CEA. At abnormal levels, this protein can be a sign of cancer. A third group got both tests. A fourth group had no special follow-up. Researchers kept track of people for an average of 4.4 years. In that time, 2.3% of those in the group who got no special follow-up had a second surgery because of a return of their colon cancer. Similar surgeries were done in 6.7% of the CEA group and 8% of the CT group. The rate of second surgery was 6.6% in the group that got both tests.