Colorectal Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society an estimated 112,340 colon and 41,420 rectal cancer cases are expected to occur in 2007.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer both in men and in women. An estimated 52,180 deaths are expected to occur in 2007, accounting for about 10% 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 found early, before colorectal cancer has spread, the disease is considered curable. However, as the tumor spreads to the lymph nodes, a patient's chance of living at least five years drops to 40 - 60%. If the cancer has already spread to distant organs, the long-term survival rate decreases substantially.