Colorectal Cancer Statistics

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and the third most common cancer in men and in women.

In 2007 (the most recent year numbers are available)—

  • 142,672 people in the United States were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, including 72,755 men and 69,917 women.*†
  • 53,219 people in the United States died from colorectal cancer, including 27,004 men and 26,215 women.*†

*Incidence counts cover approximately 99% of the U.S. population. Death counts cover 100% of the U.S. population. Use caution in comparing incidence and death counts.

†Source: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2007 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/uscs.