Cancer survivorship issues in colorectal cancer

Abstract

Colon and rectal cancers (CRC) are among the most common adult malignancies worldwide, and for a variety of reasons, the numbers of survivors of colorectal cancer are likely to increase in coming years. The incidence of these cancers doubles with each successive decade of life beyond 50 years, and with the expansion of the older population in the coming years, the absolute numbers of CRC patients in the United States will grow substantially.1 It is estimated that by the year 2030 the number of persons over the age of 65 years will have doubled and the number of persons over the age of 85 years will have quadrupled.2 Given this expanding and aging population, projections suggest that the numbers of CRC patients may increase by as much as 30%.3 Thus, with these profound demographic changes, it will be imperative to have a better understanding of the late effects and health care needs of longterm CRC survivors. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.