Colorectal Cancer

1 in 3 adults are not being screened.

Colorectal cancer is the #2 cancer killer in the US 

among cancers that affect both men and women. But 

it doesn’t have to be. Screening can find precancerous 

polyps (abnormal growths) so they can be removed 

before they turn into cancer. Screening can also find 

colorectal cancer early when it is easiest to treat. A 

new CDC report says that rates of new cases and 

deaths of colorectal cancer are decreasing and more 

adults are being screened. Between 2003 and 2007, 

approximately 66,000 colorectal cancer cases were 

prevented and 32,000 lives were saved compared to 

2002. Half of these prevented cases and deaths were 

due to screening. 

Learn what you can do to reduce your risk of 

colorectal cancer. 

See page 4

Colorectal cancer screening 

prevented about half of the

expected new cases and 

deaths during 2003-2007.

The percentage of adults 

screened for colorectal cancer 

increased 13% from 2002 to 

2010.

 

Billion

The estimated direct

medical cost of colorectal 

cancer care in 2010 was 

$14 billion.

Want to learn more? Visit

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 

Division of Cancer Prevention and Control 

1

July 2011

 www http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns
Problem

Colorectal Cancer

Screening rates are still too low

1. Colorectal cancer screening saves lives.

◊ Colorectal cancer occurs in the colon or 

rectum. In 2007, more than 142,000 people 

learned they had colorectal cancer, and more 

than 53,000 people died from it. However, 

this cancer can be stopped before it starts. 

Screening can find precancerous polyps 

(abnormal growths) so they can be removed 

before they turn into cancer. Screening can 

also find colorectal cancer early when it is 

easiest to treat. 

◊ If the Healthy People 2020 target of 70.5% for 

colorectal cancer screening in the US is met, 

close to 1,000 additional colorectal cancer 

deaths will be prevented each year. 

2. As of 2010, 1 in 3 adults between the 

ages of 50 and 75 are not up-to-date 

with recommended colorectal cancer 

screening. 

◊ People who don’t get screened at all or as 

often as recommended include those with low 

income, low education level, or those without 

health insurance. 

◊ Adults should get any one of the following 

colorectal cancer screening tests:

• A fecal occult blood test (FOBT), done at 

home - every year. 

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy done by a 

health care provider - every five years 

(accompanied by FOBT every three years). 

• Colonoscopy done by a health care provider 

- every 10 years. 

3. Those people who should be screened 

more often for colorectal cancer 

include:

◊ All adults 50 to 75 years old. 

◊ People who are at risk for developing 

colorectal cancer are those with Crohn’s 

disease, inflammatory bowel disease, some 

genetic disorders, and people with a personal 

history of polyps or close family history 

of either polyps or colorectal cancer. They 

should talk with a health care provider about 

getting screened at younger ages and/or 

more frequently and which test is right for 

them.

4. Reasons men and women don’t get 

screened for colorectal cancer include:

◊ A health care provider didn’t tell them they 

should get screened.

◊ They don’t realize that everyone’s risk 

increases with age. 

◊ They don’t have health insurance or a health 

care provider.

◊ They fear the test and/or fear the test will be 

positive for cancer.

Percentage of adults aged 50-75 years who reported receiving a stool test within 

1 year and/or lower endoscopy within 10 years.

White Black Asian/Pacific Other Hispanic

Islander

American Indian/

Alaska Native

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

Percent

Race/Ethnicity

ource: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2010

66.1 65.8

57.0 55.7 54.5 53.8

2

S
US State Info

Age-adjusted colorectal cancer incidence and death rates by year, 

and Healthy People 2020 Targets, 1975-2007

Per 100,000

Year

0

10

1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2007

20

30

40

50

60

70

Source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (http://seer.cancer.gov)

Age-adjusted Incidence Rates

HP 2020 Incidence Target

Age-adjusted Death Rates

HP 2020 Mortality Target

CT

DE DC MD

NJ

HI

RI

AL

AZ AR

CA CO

NM

FL

GA

ID

IL IN

IA

KS

KY

LA

ME

MA

MI

MN

MS

MO

MT

NV NE

NH

AK

NY

NC

ND

OH

OK

OR

PA

SC

SD

TN

TX

UT

VT

VA

WA

WV

WI

WY

Decreased 4.0 to 6.5%

Decreased 1.0 to 2.4%

Decreased 2.5 to 3.9%

No Change

No Data

Annual percent change in colorectal cancer incidence

Source: United States Cancer Statistics, 2003-2007 

CT

DE DC MD

NJ

HI

RI

AL

AZ AR

CA CO

NM

FL

GA

ID

IL IN

IA

KS

KY

LA

ME

MA

MI

MN

MS

MO

MT

NV NE

NH

AK

NY

NC

ND

OH

OK

OR

PA

SC

SD

TN

TX

UT

VT

VA

WA

WV

WI

WY

Annual percent change in colorectal cancer deaths

Decreased 4.0 to 6.5%

Decreased 1.0 to 2.4%

Decreased 2.5 to 3.9%

No Change

3
4

What Can Be Done

To help more people get screened for colorectal cancer? 

The Affordable Care Act will

◊ Increase access to preventive services 

recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services 

Task Force (USPSTF). This includes colorectal 

cancer screening (fecal occult blood test, 

sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy) in adults, 

beginning at age 50 years and continuing until 

age 75 years. 

◊ Eliminate all cost-sharing for colorectal cancer 

screening covered by Medicare.

◊ Require new health insurance plans to cover 

colorectal cancer screening with no costsharing.

◊ Greatly increase the number of people eligible 

for Medicaid to include all individuals who are 

below 133% of the poverty level (in 2014).

Federal, state, and local public health 

departments can

◊ Establish colorectal cancer screening as a 

target for clinics to help the nation reach 

Healthy People 2020 screening objectives. 

For example, the Health Resources and 

Services Administration might assess a 

clinic’s performance based on increases in 

screening rates.

◊ Work with state Medicaid programs to 

develop systems that: 

• Identify people in the age group that need to 

get screened.

• Make sure these individuals get screened.

• Get patients with abnormal screening test 

results to a medical provider quickly.

◊ Work with the State Primary Care Association 

or Federally Qualified Health Centers to 

implement patient and provider reminders as 

recommended by The Guide to Community 

Preventive Services. 

(www.thecommunityguide.org)

Doctors, nurses, and other health 

care providers can

◊ Develop systems to remind patients when they 

are due to have a screening test done and make 

sure they receive results promptly.

◊ Use “patient navigators” for those needing 

additional medical care. These people help 

ensure that quality, timely care is provided for 

each patient, from the screening test through 

treatment.

◊ Adhere to quality guidelines to assure all 

colorectal cancer screening tests meet 

standards of effectiveness. 

◊ Offer patients multiple screening options 

recommended by USPSTF.

People can

◊ Know their family history of cancer and 

personal risk factors (smoking, obesity and 

poor diet). Talk to a health care provider about 

which screening tests they should have as 

well as whether they should be screened at an 

earlier age and/or more often. 

◊ Contact their local health department about 

free or low-cost screening if they cannot pay 

for it or their insurance does not cover it. Visit 

www.cdc.gov/cancer/crccp/ to learn more. 

 www http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns

 www http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr

For more information, please contact 

Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

TTY: 1-888-232-6348

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Web: www.cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333

Publication date: 07/05/2011

223580-B