No; unfortunately routine tests not useful to prolong life.

Logic dictates that early detection of bowel cancer recurrence would lead to prompt treatment and prolong life.

But cancer doesn’t do logic !

A large trial looked at usefulness of routine blood tests and scans for early diagnosis of cancer recurrence in bowel cancer patients.

The trial found that blood tests and scans were useful to diagnose recurrence early; but this early detection of recurrence ultimately did NOT improve life expectancy.

The study used tumour markers in blood [carcinoembryonic antigen CEA ] and Scans [computed tomography CT-scans] during the 5 years after surgery for bowel cancer.

Extra scans and bloods are NOT always useful.

References

1. ESMO CEA and/or CT-scan Surveillance After Curative Surgery for Patients with Stage II or III CRC Does Not Provide Any Benefit in 5-year OS.
2. Lepage C, Phelip J-M, Cany L, et al. for PRODIGE 13 investigators/Collaborators. Effect of 5 years of CT-scan and CEA follow-up on survival endpoints in patients with colorectal cancer . Annals of Oncology; Published online 17 September 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2025.09.004

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