Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality by sex, England, 1971-2007
Deaths from bowel cancer almost halved for women between 1971 and 2007 according to figures marking Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Mortality rates decreased by 47 per cent for women, and by 36 per cent for men. In 2007, bowel cancer was the third most common cause of cancer death in men and women in England. Around 13,100 people died from bowel cancer in England in 2007.
Colorectal cancer, another name for bowel cancer, is cancer of the colon and rectum combined. It is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common in men in England. The cancer is more common in men than in women - in 2006, there were around 16,800 new cases diagnosed in men and 14,000 in women (also known as incidence). Colorectal cancer accounts for 13.8 per cent of all cancers in men and 11.6 per cent in women. In 2006, there were 55 new cases per 100,000 men and 36 per 100,000 women, the same as in 2005.
More than four out of every five new cases are diagnosed in people aged 60 and over, with cases peaking in the 70-79 age group in men and in the 75 and over age group in women.
Incidence rates for colorectal cancer increased by 28 per cent for men and 8 per cent for women between 1971 and 2006. Rates peaked at 57 per 100,000 in men in 1999 and 38 per 100,000 women in 1992. In the ten year period to 2006, rates fluctuated but remained fairly stable overall.
Around 6,900 men and 6,200 women died from colorectal cancer in England in 2007, a rate of 21 deaths per 100,000 men and 14 per 100,000 women. It is the third most common cause of cancer death, after lung and prostate cancer in men, and after lung and breast cancer in women.
Mortality rates for colorectal cancer decreased by 36 per cent for men and 47 per cent for women between 1971 and 2007, and by 19 per cent for men and 17 per cent for women in the ten years to 2007.
One in 18 men and 1 in 20 women will develop colorectal cancer at some point in their lives. Being overweight, having an inactive lifestyle and a low fibre diet can increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Eating red and processed meat, and insufficient amounts of fruit and vegetables, smoking and drinking excess alcohol are contributing factors. People with Crohn's disease in the colon, ulcerative colitis, polyps in the colon or a family history of colorectal cancer may also be at an increased risk.
Survival from cancers of the colon and rectum continues to improve and has doubled in 30 years. For colon cancer, five-year survival was 50 per cent for men and 51 per cent for women diagnosed in 2001-2006 and followed up to 2007. Five-year survival for those diagnosed in 1971-1975 and followed up to 1995 was 22 per cent for men and 23 per cent for women.
For cancer of the rectum, five-year survival was 51 per cent for men and 55 per cent for women diagnosed in 2001-2006 and followed up to 2007. Five-year survival for those diagnosed in 1971-1975 and followed up to 1995 was 25 per cent for men and 28 per cent for women.
Screening for bowel cancer was launched in England in 2006 and will achieve nationwide coverage by 2009. In England, people aged 60–69 will be offered screening every two years, and people 70 and over can request it. From 2010, routine screening will also be offered to those aged 70-75.
Screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage (in people with no symptoms), when treatment is more likely to be effective. Bowel cancer screening can also detect polyps. These are not cancers, but may develop into cancers over time. They can easily be removed, reducing the risk of bowel cancer developing.
Notes: A polyp is a benign (non-cancerous) growth of the lining of the colon.
Colorectal cancer is coded to 153 and 154 in the International Classification of Diseases Eighth and Ninth Revisions (ICD-8 & 9) and to C18-21 in the Tenth Revision (ICD-10).
All rates are directly age-standardised using the European standard population.
The five-year relative survival rates are for adults (ages 15-99) and have been age standardised to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time. This enables figures for different time periods to be compared.
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