In 2012, there were 3.5 million cancer deaths among women across the globe — this number is projected to increase to 5.5 million cancer deaths by 2030, according to an American Cancer Society report on the global burden of cancer in women.
Here's what you need to know about colorectal cancer:
1. Colorectal cancer rates are similar for male and female populations.
2. Colorectal cancer is the second most-diagnosed cancer for women; it is the third most common cause of cancer death for women.
3. North America, Australia/New Zealand and high-income countries in Europe, report colon and rectum five-year relative survival rates around 60 percent to 65 percent.
4. In recent years, there has been a decrease in colorectal cancer incidence in the United States; this progress has been attributed to reduced exposure to risk factors and increased rates of screening.
5. When considering risk factors, around 8 percent of colorectal cancers in the United States are caused by smoking — a phenomenon that has also been decreasing in recent years.