According to the new American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts and Figures 2007, 2,204 fewer people died from colorectal cancer in 2004 than 2003, the latest years where cancer deaths numbers are available. Decline in death from colon and rectal cancer was the largest contributor to an overall reduction in cancer deaths.
The trend is expected to continue in 2007 with fewer people diagnosed with colorectal cancer and fewer people dying from it. Incidence and death rates are also steadily declining. From 1990 through 2003, the death rate from colorectal cancer has been cut by 25%.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. In 2007, 52,180 men and women will die of colon or rectal cancer. Only lung cancer is a bigger killer.
In 2007, the American Cancer Society estimates that 153,760 people in the US will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer — 112,320 in the colon and 41,410 in the rectum.
Men and women are equally affected by colorectal cancer. 79,130 men will hear that they have colorectal cancer in this year, while 74,630 women will be diagnosed. Even worse, 26,000 men and 26,180 women will die. Over their lifetime, men have a 1 in 17 chance of getting colorectal cancer, women 1 in 19.
ACS attributes the reduction in new colorectal cancers and deaths from colorectal cancer to:
- Increased screening rates that find pre-cancerous polyps and prevent the disease from ever occurring.
- Earlier detection of colon and rectal cancers due to improved screening. Colorectal cancer found in its earliest stage is more than 90% curable.
- Improved treatment options.
In discussing the meaning of the new numbers, Carlea Bauman, Executive Director of C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition, said,
These statistics are encouraging and they reflect the hard work that has gone into fighting colorectal cancer. But they will provide little comfort to the 154,000 men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer or to the loved ones of the 52,000 people who will die from colorectal cancer this year. Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.
We encourage everyone to know their risk for colorectal cancer, get screened, and be aware of the symptoms of colon or rectal cancer. C3 and its advocates are also working hard to increase funding for research into treating and preventing this devastating disease.
Cancer Facts and Figures is based an annual statistical study done by the American Cancer Society and reported in the January 2007 issue of CA: A Journal for Clinicians.
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