Disease Overview

  • Incidence

    Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in either men or women with approximately 153,000 new cases anticipated in 2023.1

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  • Mortality

    Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Approximately 53,000 colorectal cancer deaths are expected in 2023.1

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  • Pathobiology

    Approximately 70% of colorectal cancer develops from adenomas over the course of a decade or longer, providing a valuable window of available time for screening and early detection.2,3

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  • Risk Factors

    Risk factors for colorectal cancer are categorized as modifiable and nonmodifiable with over half of all cases being attributed to modifiable factors.4

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  • Genetic Contributions

    Several genetic mutations are associated with increased risk for colorectal cancer; however, these variants only account for a small percentage of cases.5

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  • Young Onset Disease/Trends

    The incidence of CRC in a younger population is rising which has been attributed primarily to changes in lifestyle, the environment, and metabolic factors.6

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References

1 Siegel RL, Miller KD, Fuchs HE, et al. Cancer statistics, 2023. CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;73(1):17-48.

2 Winawer SJ, Fletcher RH, Miller L, et al. Colorectal cancer screening: clinical guidelines and rationale. Gastroenterol. 1997;112(2):594-642.

3 Rex DK, Boland CR, Dominitz JA, et al. Colorectal cancer screening: recommendations for physicians and patients from the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on colorectal cancer. Am J Gastroenterol. 2017:112(7):1016-1030.

4 American Cancer Society. Colorectal cancer facts & figures 2020-2022.  Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2020.

5 Stoffel, EM, Murphy CC. Epidemiology and mechanisms of the increasing incidence of colon and rectal cancers in young adults. Gastroenterol. 2020;158:341–353

6 Patel SG, Boland CR. Colorectal cancer in persons under age 50: seeking causes and solutions. Gastrointestin Endosc Clin N Am. 2020;30:441-455.


Last Updated: 3/13/2023