Colon Cancer Survival Rates

When discussing diseases such as colon cancer, survival rates refer to the percentage of people who survive the disease for a specific period of time after their diagnosis. The colon cancer survival rates contained in the following article are based on the relative survival rate, which measures the survival of people with the disease in comparison to the general population to estimate the effect of cancer. For people with colon cancer, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for 1996-2002 was 64.1 percent.

 

An Overview of Colon Cancer Survival Rates

Colon cancer survival rates indicate the percentage of people who survive the disease for a specific period of time after their diagnosis. In most cases, statistics refer to 5-year survival rates. The 5-year colon cancer survival rate is the percentage of people who are alive 5 years after being diagnosed with the disease, whether they have few or no signs or symptoms of cancer, are free of disease, or are receiving treatment.
 
Colon cancer survival rates are based on large groups of people; they cannot be used to predict what will happen to a particular patient. No two patients are exactly alike, and colon cancer treatment and responses to treatment vary greatly. The survival rates discussed in this article reflect national statistics that combine data from cases of both colon and rectal cancer.
 

Factors Influencing Colon Cancer Survival Rates

In general, colon cancer survival rates will depend on:
 
  • The stage of colon cancer (see Colon Cancer Stages)
  • The patient's age and general health.
  • Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has come back.
     
(Colon Cancer Survival Rates Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD