Here are the latest figures from the American Cancer Society.¹

• Every year, about 150,000 people are diagnosed with cancer of the colon or rectum in the United States.
• For about 1 in 4 people with this disease, their tumor will be in their rectum.
• Anyone can get colon or rectal cancer, but more than 9 out of 10 people with this disease are over age 50.
• Around 56,000 people die from the disease every year. Of people who die from cancer, 1 in 10 die from colon or rectal cancer.
• Only lung cancer and prostate cancer claim more lives among men, and only lung cancer and breast cancer cause more deaths among women.
• Black Americans are more likely to get this cancer and to die from it than other ethnic or racial groups. Researchers are not sure why this is.
• The good news is that the number of people in all groups who are dying from colon and rectal cancer is going down. Research suggests that screening programs are helping people find polyps earlier so they can have them removed before they become cancer.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.