Colon Cancer Statistics: An Introduction
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. During recent years, the number of people diagnosed with
colon cancer has stayed about the same, but the number of people who die from colon cancer has decreased. Colon cancer is found more often in men than in women.
The American Cancer Society predicts that in 2006 148,610 men and women (72,800 men and 75,810 women) would be diagnosed with colon cancer and 55,170 men and women will die of colon cancer.
As is often the case, the statistics cited in this article combine data collected on both colon and
rectal cancer.
The median age at
colon cancer diagnosis for 2000-2003 was 71 years of age. The percentages of people diagnosed with colon cancer based on age were:
- 0.0 percent were diagnosed under age 20
- 0.9 percent between 20 and 34
- 3.5 percent between 35 and 44
- 10.9 percent between 45 and 54
- 17.6 percent between 55 and 64
- 25.9 percent between 65 and 74
- 28.8 percent between 75 and 84
- 12.3 percent 85+ years of age.
The median age at death for colon cancer for 2000-2003 was 75 years of age. The percentages of people who died from colon cancer based on age were:
- 0.0 percent died under age 20
- 0.6 percent between 20 and 34
- 2.4 percent between 35 and 44
- 7.7 percent between 45 and 54
- 14.3 percent between 55 and 64
- 23.9 percent between 65 and 74
- 31.1 percent between 75 and 84
- 20.0 percent 85+ years of age.
