Colorectal cancer – cancer of the colon or rectum – is generally referred to as one disease, although the treatment for both diseases is different, and colon cancer is about three times more common than rectal cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates that colorectal cancer will account for 11 percent of all new cancer diagnoses and 10 percent of all cancer deaths in the year 2004. It is the third most common cancer in men and women. Although more than 146,000 new cases of colorectal cancers are diagnosed each year, the majority of patients are cured. In fact, cure rates for colorectal cancers have been increasing for the past decade. The American Cancer Society attributes this feat to reduced incidence rates, early detection and improved treatments.