Colorectal Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society an estimated 106,100 colon and 40,870 rectal cancer cases are expected to occur in 2009.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer both in men and in women. An estimated 49,920 deaths are expected to occur in 2009, accounting for about 9% of cancer deaths. Mortality rates continue to decline in both men and women, reflecting decreasing incidence rates and improvements in survival.

Early diagnosis of this disease is one of the key elements to its cure. Colorectal cancers probably develop slowly over a period of several years. Before a true cancer develops, there are often earlier changes in the lining of the colon or rectum. If it is found early, before colorectal cancer has spread, the disease is considered curable. However, as the tumor spreads to involve adjacent organs or lymph nodes, a patient's chance of living at least five years drops to 68%. If the cancer has already spread to distant organs, the long-term survival rate decreases substantially.