The Oncology Surgeon’s Role in Postoperative Surveillance Following CRC Resection
Experts discuss how postsurgical surveillance for colorectal cancer varies by setting, with multidisciplinary teams leading coordinated care in academic centers, whereas surgeons in rural or resource-limited areas often take on expanded roles to ensure follow-up and monitoring are not compromised.
Current surveillance practices following colorectal cancer surgery often depend on the resources and infrastructure of the treating center. In larger academic or multidisciplinary settings, patients are typically transitioned seamlessly from surgery into comprehensive care that includes medical oncology and nurse navigation. This coordinated model ensures follow-up imaging, tumor marker monitoring, and colonoscopy are not missed, and patient adherence is actively managed.
In more rural or community-based settings, however, the approach can differ significantly. Surgeons may remain more involved in postoperative surveillance, especially when patients are referred from areas with limited access to specialized oncology care. In such cases, the surgical team may take responsibility for monitoring tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen, ensuring the appropriate imaging is ordered, and sometimes even performing follow-up colonoscopies. This hands-on involvement ensures patients do not fall through the cracks due to gaps in local health care infrastructure.
Ultimately, the depth of the surgeon’s involvement varies based on patient location and health care system capabilities. Where robust multidisciplinary teams exist, care is more easily coordinated across specialties. In contrast, in resource-limited areas, surgeons often step into extended roles to ensure proper surveillance is maintained. This flexibility highlights the importance of adaptable care models to meet patients’ needs, regardless of geographic or systemic barriers.
