Recommendations for following patients after treatment to detect recurrences may include:
• History and physical examination every two to three months.
• Chest x-ray every 6 to 12 months for three to five years.
• CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis once or twice a year for one to two years if CEA or liver function tests
  are abnormal or liver becomes enlarged, then yearly as required.
• Barium enema as required. 
• Complete blood count and serum chemistry profile every three months.
• Measurement of the CEA level in the blood every 6 to 12 weeks for three to five years, since a rise in the level
  may occur before other clinical , x-ray or laboratory tests show recurrence. If the CEA rises above normal,
  about one-third of patients may have a recurrent tumor that can be totally removed with surgery and so may
  be cured. The CEA test may not be covered by all provincial health plans and the patient may be required to
  pay it.
• Proctosigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy at least once a year.
    Recommendations for follow-up after the successful surgical removal of Dukes' A, B and C tumors include:
• History and physical examination every three months for detection of tumor recurrence.
• Complete blood count and serum chemistry profile every three to six months.
• Colonoscopy (rather than a barium enema) every year to detect recurrent or new polyps or cancer.