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Colon Cancer Statistics
- 1 in 26 women and 1 in 24 men in the US will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime.
- Average age at diagnosis: 66, but rising 1-2% per year in younger adults under age 50. It is now the deadliest cancer in men under 50 and second deadliest in women under 50.
- In 2025, an estimated 154,270 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in the US.
- This year, an estimated 52,900 people will die from colorectal cancer – it’s the second leading cause of cancer death for men and women combined.
- Colorectal cancer care costs $24.3 billion annually, second highest among cancers.
Modifiable Risk Factors include:
- Diet high in red/processed meat
- Obesity & physical inactivity
- Smoking
- Alcohol use (even moderate intake increases risk)
American Cancer Society Recommended Colorectal Cancer Screenings:
- Age 45 for average-risk adults through age 75 if in good health and life expectancy >10 years
- Test Options:
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- FIT or gFOBT: Every year
- Stool DNA-FIT: Every 3 years
- Colonoscopy: Every 10 years
- CT colonography: Every 5 years
- Sigmoidoscopy: Every 5 years
- High-risk individuals: May need earlier and more frequent screening (e.g., family history, genetic syndromes, prior polyps, IBD).
This is part 4 of a series on specific Cancers that have preventive screenings. Stay tuned to find out more about each of the 6 cancers.
To View All Parts Click Here!
Written by: Kelly McCall, Manager Health Intelligence Analytics