Home blue About us blue About usblue Fast Facts - Colorectal Cancer print  Print page    fontsize Change text size
transparent
Fast Facts - Colorectal Cancer

(includes cancers of the colon and rectum)
South Australian statistics
  • Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed among South Australians (males and females combined) and the second most common cause of cancer deaths

  • There were 1,147 cases of colorectal cancer in South Australia in 2005 and 447 deaths

  • The risk of South Australians developing colorectal cancer before the age of 75 is 1 in 23

  • Male colon cancer incidence and mortality rates have been steady over the period 1995-2005

  • Female colon cancer incidence has remained steady, but the mortality rate has decreased by 10 per cent during the period 1995-2005

  • Male and female rectal cancer incidence and mortality rates have decreased slightly during the period 1995-2005

  • Survival from colorectal cancer has improved over the past three decades. The five year survival is about 60 per cent

  • Cancer surveillance by colonoscopy is effective in reducing the risk and severity of colorectal cancer

  • Ten per cent of patients with colorectal cancer have a family history of this cancer among close relatives. Genetic testing can now identify the underlying inherited genetic error responsible in a quarter of these families

  • A family history of early-onset colorectal cancer (under 50 years) or relatives with colorectal cancer are important indicators for the need for colorectal cancer surveillance.
Sources:
Major Cancers in South Australia 1977-2005, Cancer Registry SA, The Department of Health; Cancer in South Australia 2005, with projections to 2008, Cancer Registry SA, The Department of Health; Cancer in South Australia 2004, with projections to 2007, Cancer Registry SA, The Department of Health.

Australian statistics
  • In 2003, 12,536 Australians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 4,372 died from the disease

  • The risk of developing colorectal cancer before the age of 75 is 1 in 22 (for all of Australia) and before the age of 85 is 1 in 12

  • Being overweight and obese accounts for about 11 per cent of colon cancers (906 cases in 2003).

  • (includes cancers of the colon and rectum)




top Top