Colorectal Cancer Statistics

Of cancers that affect both men and women, 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. For more information, visit Cancer Among Men and Cancer Among Women.

In 2008 (the most recent year numbers are available)—

• 142,950 people in the United States were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, including 73,183 men and 69,767 women.*†
• 52,857 people in the United States died from colorectal cancer, including 26,933 men and 25,924 women.*†

*Incidence and death counts cover approximately 100% of the U.S. population.

†Source: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2008 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2012. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/uscs. (full site)