The reason for this wide discrepancy is largely unknown, but delayed detection in men may be partially to blame. One of the most serious cancers, it is also one of the most curable, when caught early. The overall cure rate is about 50 percent, but odds increase dramatically to more than 95 percent if the cancer is detected before it has had a chance to penetrate the colon walls or spread to nearby lymph nodes. The incidence of colorectal cancer is much greater in industrialized countries, suggesting that environmental factors may contribute to its development. The most important of these is diet.
Age is another factor.
As a person ages, his or her risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as well. The incidence of the disease rises after the age of 40, with more than 94 percent of cases occurring after age 50. The average age at diagnosis is 62. Your family and personal health histories are also very important in evaluating your risk of colorectal cancer. The risk is greater if the cancer occurred in close relatives like parents, children or siblings.