Colorectal (Colon) Cancer Incidence Rates

Of cancers affecting both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon and rectum) is the second leading cancer killer in the United States. In 2007 (the most recent year for which statistics are available), 142,672 Americans were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, including 72,755 men and 69,917 women.

"Incidence rate" means how many people out of a given number get the disease in a year. The graph shows how many people out of 100,000 got colorectal cancer in 2007. The colorectal cancer incidence rate is grouped by race, ethnicity, and gender.

Men and women had significantly different incidence rates. Among men, black men the highest rates; 62.0 out of every 100,000 black men were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2007. White men were second with a rate of 51.5 per 100,000, followed by Hispanic men (44.8), Asian/Pacific Islander men (39.7), and American Indian/Alaska Native men (33.5).

Among women, black women were the most likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2007, at a rate of 47.1 per 100,000. White women were second at 38.5, followed by Hispanic women at 32.6, Asian/Pacific Islander women at 31.1, and American Indian/Alaska Native women at 28.8.

†Hispanics are not mutually exclusive from whites, blacks, Asians/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaska Natives.

Reducing Risk

Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. However, many people who are at risk for colorectal cancer are not being screened according to national guidelines. It is estimated that as many as 60% of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented if all men and women aged 50 years or older were screened routinely.

Data 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.

More Information

• Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
• Cáncer colorrectal
• Colorectal Cancer Statistics
• Colorectal Cancer Research
• Screen for Life Print Materials
• Colorectal Cancer Control Program