- Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.
- The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for the number of colorectal cancer cases in the United States are for 2010: 102,900 new cases of colon cancer (49,470 in men and 53,430 in women). 39,670 new cases of rectal cancer (22,620 in men and 17,050 in women).
- Overall, the lifetime risk in men for developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 19. This risk is slightly lower in women (1 in 20).
- Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
- When men and women are considered separately,and the second leading cause when both sexes are combined.
- It is expected to cause about 51,370 deaths (26,580 in men and 24,790 in women) during 2010.
- The death rate (the number of deaths per 100,000 people per year) from colorectal cancer has been dropping in both men and women for more then 20 years. There are likely a number of reasons for this.
- ONE IS THAT POLYPS ARE BEING FOUND BY SCREENING AND REMOVED BEFORE THEY CAN DEVELOP INTO CANCERS.
- SCREENING IS ALSO ALLOWING MORE COLORECTAL CANCERS TO BE FOUND EARLIER WHEN THE DISEASE IS EASIER TO CURE.
- In addition, treatment for colorectal cancer has improved over the last several years.
- As a result, there are now more than ONE MILLION SURVIVORS of colorectal cancer in the United States.
Taken from www.cancer.org
Last medical review: 02/16/2010
Last Revised: 08/09/2010