U.S. Colorectal Cancer Incidence: 1999–2004

Although overall incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been declining in the U.S., the burden of disease remains disproportionately large in several subpopulations. To provide a current and comprehensive picture of CRC incidence by subpopulation, investigators used data from the National Program of Cancer Registries and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program databases to report CRC incidence rates by four age groups (40–44, 45–49, 50–64, and ≥65), sex, race, cancer subsite, and disease stage for the period 1999–2004.

The following are highlights from the report, organized by incidence stratifier:

Age/Sex

• A total of 814,697 invasive CRCs were found during the study period; 92% occurred in people ≥50, and 67% occurred in pe…