Colon Cancer: America’s Third Most Common Type of Cancer

• Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer among men and women in the United States.¹ The American Cancer Society estimates that about 108,070 new cases of colon cancer (53,760 in men and 54,310 in women) and 40,740 new cases of rectal cancer (23,490 in men and 17,250 in women) will be diagnosed in 2008.²
• In the United States, a man's average lifetime risk of colon cancer is about one in 17. For a woman, the risk is about one in 19.³
• Medical experts advise that anyone at age 50 or older at average risk should, as one of their screening options, be screened annually with the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or the newer fecal immunochemical (FIT) for this disease. Speak to your doctor about screening if you believe you are at higher than average risk for colorectal cancer.^4,5

Colorectal Cancer Screening is Important. Are You a Doubter or a Doer? These Facts Will Turn You Around. 

• Colorectal cancer screening works! The number of deaths from colorectal cancer has been declining for the past 15 years, likely due in part to increased screening, which allows for earlier detection of cancer and precancerous polyps and earlier treatment. Because of this, there are now about 1 million colorectal cancer survivors in the United States.⁶
• If caught early (in stage I), the relative five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is higher than 90%, compared with only about 10% in people with advanced disease. Screening is the most important tool for catching colorectal cancer early.²
• In a U.S. clinical study, colorectal cancer deaths were reduced by 33% when annual fecal occult blood tests were performed.⁷

Underuse of Screening

Colorectal cancer screening remains underused, despite the availability of effective screening tests.⁸

• Screening for colorectal cancer lags far behind screening for breast and cervical cancers.
• As many as 60% of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented if everyone age 50 and older were screened regularly.
• In one study, the InSure® FIT™ test with the more convenient Blue Brush Method had as much as 66% better compliance compared to a leading guaiac-based FOBT screening test.⁹

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Colorectal Cancer: Basic Information: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/
2. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Testing on the Rise. Accessed February 4, 2008. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Colorectal_
   Cancer_Testing_on_the_Rise.asp
3. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colon-cancer/CO99999/PAGE=CO00004
4. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines. Accessed February 4, 2008. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_3X_How_is_
   colorectal_cancer_found.asp
5. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Colorectal Cancer: Recommendations and Rationale. July 2002. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
6. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer: Early Detection. Accessed February 4, 2008. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6X_Colorectal_
   Cancer_Early_Detection_10.asp?from=colontesting
7. Mandel, J.S., et al.: “Reducing mortality from colorectal cancer by screening for fecal occult blood”. N.Eng.J.Med 328:1365-1371, 1993
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Colorectal Cancer: Screening Rates. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/statistics/screening_rates.htm
9. Cole SR, Young GP, Esterman A, Cadd A, Morcom J. A randomised trial of the impact of new faecal haemoglobin test technologies on population participation in screening for colorectal cancer. J Med Screen 2003;10:117-122.