U.S. Survival Statistics by Cancer Site

Different survival rates are associated with different cancer sites. Many factors influence a cancer patient's survival. These figures provide average survival rates for people in the U.S. based on the exact cancer site in the colon or rectum. The five-year survival rate represents the percentage of patients alive five years after their initial cancer diagnosis.

It's important to note that all the different tumor stages are combined in these survival statistics. So, if a tumor is diagnosed at an early stage (stage 1), the survival rate will likely be higher than shown here. Likewise, if a tumor is diagnosed at a late stage (stage 4), the survival rate will likely be lower than shown here.

Five-Year Survival Statistics by Cancer Site

• Rectum: 59%
  
• Right colon: 59%
  
• Transverse colon: 59%
  
• Rectosigmoid junction: 62%
  
• Ascending colon: 63%
  
• Left colon: 65%
  
• Descending colon: 66%

These survival statistics were derived from a study published in the European Journal of Cancer. Researchers examined data from approximately 54,000 cancer patients registered in SEER, a database maintained by the National Cancer Institute. It's important to note that the patients had received treatment between 1985 and 1989. Colorectal cancer treatments continually evolve and survival rates have likely improved since the late 1980's.

_{Source: Gattaj, G. and Ciccolallo, L. "Differences in Colorectal Cancer Survival Between European and US Populations: The Importance of Sub-Site and Morphology." European Journal of Cancer 39.15 (Oct. 2003): 2214-2222. PubMed. 20 Aug. 2006 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14522381&dopt=Abstract].}