[Controversies in the after-care of colon cancer]

A recurrence rate of 37 per cent (n = 155) was recorded from 414 patients who had undergone curative operations for colon carcinoma, between 1970 and 1980. Reoperation was performed on 100 patients and was successfully completed in 33 per cent. The five-year survival rate amounted to 24 per cent, following curative reoperation. No patient in a group without regular follow-up after reoperation survived 5 additional years. Related to all cases of recurrence, 5 year survival was recorded from only 5 per cent. 10 year survival rates of all patients with follow-up differed significantly from those without.