Colorectal Cancer Facts and Figures

Incidence

• In 2004 colorectal cancer was the third most common cancer in men, after prostate and lung cancer. It accounted for 14% of all new male cancer cases. The Age Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIR) was 62 per 100,000 men.
• In 2004 colorectal cancer was also the third most common cancer in women, after breast and lung cancer. It accounted for 13% of all new female cancer cases. The ASIR was 43 per 100,000 women.
• The occurrence of colorectal cancer is strongly related to age, with nearly 80% of all cases arising in people 60 years of age or older. Until age 50 both men and women have similar rates for colorectal cancer, but in later life the rates in men are higher.

Age standardized incidence rates by sex, colorectal cancer, Canada, 1972-2004

• Between 1972 and 1984 the ASIR for both men and women rose by 1% -2% per year. The ASIR decreased significantly in both men and women between the mid-1980s and mid- 1990s, declining between 0.5% -1.5% per year. There were no significant changes in colorectal cancer rates after the late-1990s for men or women. Actually, Canadian cancer statistics indicates a 1.5% statistically significant decline for men and and a 1.1% statistically significant decline for women for the period 1995-2004.

Mortality

• In 2004 the Age Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) of colorectal cancer ranked second among all cancer deaths. It currently accounts for 4% of all deaths and 12% of all cancer deaths in Canada.
• The ASMR from colorectal cancer has declined in both men and women over the past two decades.

Survival

• Age standardized relative survival has increased in both men and women over the last 10 years. Approximately 57% of men and 59% of women currently survive at least five years after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

* Data source is from the Canadian Cancer Registry Database (Orius system)