Colorectal cancer mortality rates are expected to rise as the world's population ages, according to research in the International Journal of Cancer.
Researchers used the World Health Organization's database from 1989 to 2016 to project CRC mortality rates through 2035, using age-period-cohort modelling.
What you should know:
1. Worldwide colon and rectal cancer rates are expected to increase by 60 percent and 71.5 percent respectively by 2035.
2. Colon cancer mortality rates are expected to decrease in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. However, mortality rates will increase in Latin American and Caribbean countries, which are driving the worldwide increase.
3. Rectal cancer rates are expected to increase drastically in Costa Rica (73.6 percent), Australia (59.2 percent), U.S. (27.8 percent), Ireland (24.2 percent) and Canada (24.1 percent).
4. Researchers concluded, "Reductions in colon and rectal cancer mortality rates are probably due to better accessibility to early detection services and improved specialized care. The expected increase in rectal cancer mortality rates in some countries is worrisome and warrants further investigations."