The incidence of colorectal cancer among the target population of older Americans declined from 2003-2007, especially in states with higher screening rates, according to a release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A major CDC report on colon cancer showed that rates among U.S. adults ages 50-75 decreased by 3.4 percent per year from 2003-2007. The report also found that colorectal cancer screening rates rose from 52 percent in 2002 to 65 percent in 2010.
However, about 1 in 3 people in the target ages are not current with recommended colorectal cancer screening. The CDC recommended use of electronic medical records systems to help practices improve screening rates.
Some other findings were:
- The rate of new colon cancer cases fell from 52.3 per 100,000 in 2003 to 45.4 per 100,000 in 2007.
- The colorectal cancer death rate fell from 19.0 per 100,000 in 2003 to 16.7 per 100,000 in 2007. That amounted to a 3 percent yearly decrease in deaths and nearly 32,000 fewer deaths.
- North Dakota reported the highest number of colorectal cancer cases per 100,000 (56.9) and Utah had the lowest (34.3) in 2007.
- Washington, D.C., reported the highest number of colorectal cancer deaths per 100,000 (21.1) while Montana and Colorado reported the lowest (14.1) in 2007.
Read the CDC release on colorectal cancer.
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