Colorectal cancer costs the U.S. healthcare system $11.8 billion annually. This article presents the key statistics on its burden, treatment costs, and survival outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- Global cancer research investment was $7.1 billion in 2021 for colorectal cancer (estimate in GCO/GRA report for research funding allocation)
- In the U.S., colorectal cancer costs the healthcare system about $11.8 billion annually (direct medical costs, 2013)
- A cost-effectiveness analysis estimated that mailed FIT strategies can be cost-effective at commonly used willingness-to-pay thresholds (incremental cost-effectiveness ratios reported in the study)
- 2% of colorectal cancer cases and 2% of colorectal cancer deaths were attributable to smoking in 2020
- For stage IV colorectal cancer in the U.S., 5-year relative survival is 14% (SEER)
- In the CAIRO3 trial, capecitabine/irinotecan/oxaliplatin (CAPOX) maintenance was compared; reported median overall survival was 16.6 months in one arm (trial outcome)
- In the U.S., 28.7% of colorectal cancer patients are White (non-Hispanic) and 8.3% are Black (non-Hispanic) among those diagnosed (race distribution varies by dataset)
- In the PLCO trial, 20% of participants assigned to screening were found to have an advanced adenoma at some point during follow-up
- Among adults aged 50–75 in the U.S., 14.0% reported not having received any colorectal cancer screening in the past year in 2022 (BRFSS)
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends clinicians screen adults aged 76 to 85 years selectively, based on overall health and prior screening history
- BRCA2 (and other HRR genes) are associated with increased risk; in a cohort meta-analysis, carriers showed elevated colorectal cancer risk with odds ratio reported for carriers
- Obesity increases colorectal cancer risk; a meta-analysis estimated colorectal cancer relative risk of 1.24 for obesity (BMI ≥30)
- Each 100 g/day of red meat increases colorectal cancer risk by 17% (dose-response estimate)
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) grades for colorectal cancer screening are: Grade A for age 45–75 using screening tests and Grade C for age 76–85 selective screening
- In Scotland, the bowel cancer screening programme reported 60.3% screening uptake in 2022/23
In 2022, only 14% of US adults reported missing no screening, underscoring urgent colorectal cancer prevention.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic & Resource Impact10 stats
01
Global cancer research investment was $7.1 billion in 2021 for colorectal cancer (estimate in GCO/GRA report for research funding allocation)
02
In the U.S., colorectal cancer costs the healthcare system about $11.8 billion annually (direct medical costs, 2013)
03
A cost-effectiveness analysis estimated that mailed FIT strategies can be cost-effective at commonly used willingness-to-pay thresholds (incremental cost-effectiveness ratios reported in the study)
04
A U.S. model estimated colorectal cancer screening can avert 18% of CRC deaths relative to no screening (scenario modeled)
05
In the UK, bowel cancer screening produces net benefits by detecting cancers earlier, with modeled cost per QALY within accepted thresholds (economic evaluation reports)
06
In the U.S., Medicare spending on colorectal cancer increased from 2007 to 2016 (annual spend figures in the study dataset)
07
$4,000is the median cost of a screening colonoscopy in the U.S. (cost estimate cited by national cost literature)
08
FIT tests in the UK NHS cost about £5–£10 per test (unit cost range reported in economic evaluations)
09
Treating colorectal cancer often requires multiple lines of therapy; in claims data studies, >50% of patients receive systemic treatment during disease course (proportion reported)
10
In the U.S., the total lifetime cost of colorectal cancer for a patient was estimated at $22,400(discounted cost, modeling study)
Interpretation
Economic & Resource Impact Interpretation
Economic and resource pressures around bowel cancer are substantial, with global colorectal cancer research investment of $7.1 billion in 2021 alongside major healthcare costs such as $11.8 billion per year in the US and rising Medicare spending from 2007 to 2016, even as screening approaches can deliver cost-effective and net-beneficial returns.
02 · Category
Epidemiology Burden1 stats
01
2% of colorectal cancer cases and 2% of colorectal cancer deaths were attributable to smoking in 2020
Interpretation
Epidemiology Burden Interpretation
In 2020, smoking accounted for 2% of colorectal cancer cases and 2% of deaths, underscoring that a measurable share of epidemiology burden is linked to this modifiable risk factor.
03 · Category
Clinical Practice Patterns9 stats
01
For stage IV colorectal cancer in the U.S., 5-year relative survival is 14% (SEER)
02
In the CAIRO3 trial, capecitabine/irinotecan/oxaliplatin (CAPOX) maintenance was compared; reported median overall survival was 16.6 months in one arm (trial outcome)
03
In the U.S., 28.7% of colorectal cancer patients are White (non-Hispanic) and 8.3% are Black (non-Hispanic) among those diagnosed (race distribution varies by dataset)
04
In locally advanced rectal cancer, total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) is increasingly used; trials report pathologic complete response rates of 20–30% depending on regimen (range reported across major studies)
05
In KEYNOTE-177, pembrolizumab improved median progression-free survival to 16.5 months vs. 8.2 months with chemotherapy in dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer
06
In CheckMate 142, the 12-month progression-free survival rate was 64% in dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer with nivolumab plus ipilimumab
07
In the PRODIGE 6 trial, perioperative chemotherapy was compared in locally advanced disease with reported overall survival percentages at key timepoints (trial outcomes)
08
In the FOxTROT trial, total mesorectal excision with adjuvant therapy produced reported 2-year disease-free survival of 76% (trial)
09
For patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that is RAS wild-type, anti-EGFR therapy (e.g., cetuximab, panitumumab) is used based on biomarker testing; studies report improved response rates when RAS status is wild-type
Interpretation
Clinical Practice Patterns Interpretation
Clinical practice for colorectal cancer appears to be shifting toward more targeted and intensive approaches because outcomes in advanced disease remain poor, with only 14% 5-year relative survival for stage IV in the U.S., yet trials are showing substantially longer survival and control with newer regimens such as 16.5 months progression-free survival in KEYNOTE-177 and 64% 12-month progression-free survival in CheckMate 142 for dMMR metastatic disease.
04 · Category
Screening & Outcomes1 stats
01
In the PLCO trial, 20% of participants assigned to screening were found to have an advanced adenoma at some point during follow-up
Interpretation
Screening & Outcomes Interpretation
In the screening-focused outcomes view, the PLCO trial found that 20% of people assigned to screening were diagnosed with an advanced adenoma at some point during follow-up, showing that screening can identify clinically significant precancer even after random assignment.
05 · Category
Healthcare Utilization2 stats
01
Among adults aged 50–75 in the U.S., 14.0% reported not having received any colorectal cancer screening in the past year in 2022 (BRFSS)
02
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends clinicians screen adults aged 76 to 85 years selectively, based on overall health and prior screening history
Interpretation
Healthcare Utilization Interpretation
In 2022, 14.0% of U.S. adults aged 50–75 reported no colorectal cancer screening in the past year, showing a clear gap in healthcare utilization that means many people are not getting recommended screening even before clinicians begin selective screening for ages 76 to 85.
06 · Category
Risk Factors & Genetics5 stats
01
BRCA2 (and other HRR genes) are associated with increased risk; in a cohort meta-analysis, carriers showed elevated colorectal cancer risk with odds ratio reported for carriers
02
Obesity increases colorectal cancer risk; a meta-analysis estimated colorectal cancer relative risk of 1.24 for obesity (BMI ≥30)
03
Each 100 g/day of red meat increases colorectal cancer risk by 17% (dose-response estimate)
04
Type 2 diabetes is associated with colorectal cancer; meta-analysis estimated RR of about 1.18 for diabetes vs. no diabetes
05
Inflammatory bowel disease increases colorectal cancer risk; long-standing ulcerative colitis increases risk substantially (risk estimates reported as incidence rates in the review)
Interpretation
Risk Factors & Genetics Interpretation
Across key risk factors and genetics, colorectal cancer risk rises meaningfully with exposures such as obesity where the pooled relative risk is about 1.24 and red meat where each additional 100 g per day increases risk by 17%, while conditions and inherited susceptibility like HRR gene carrier status and inflammatory bowel disease add further elevation, underscoring that this category is driven by both biology and lifestyle.
More related reading
07 · Category
Incidence & Mortality1 stats
01
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) grades for colorectal cancer screening are: Grade A for age 45–75 using screening tests and Grade C for age 76–85 selective screening
Interpretation
Incidence & Mortality Interpretation
For Incidence and Mortality, the USPSTF gives a Grade A recommendation for colorectal cancer screening for ages 45 to 75 using screening tests, underscoring the strong emphasis on prevention and early detection to help reduce deaths.
08 · Category
Screening Coverage2 stats
01
In Scotland, the bowel cancer screening programme reported 60.3% screening uptake in 2022/23
02
In the U.S., 54.2% of adults aged 50–75 were up to date with colorectal cancer screening in 2018
Interpretation
Screening Coverage Interpretation
Screening coverage remains far from universal, with Scotland reporting 60.3% uptake in 2022 to 23 while the US had 54.2% of adults aged 50 to 75 up to date with colorectal cancer screening in 2018.
09 · Category
Risk Factors5 stats
01
A 2023 OECD report estimated that colorectal cancer ranks among the most common cancers in OECD countries, with incidence and mortality varying widely by country
02
A 2019 meta-analysis estimated that increasing BMI by 5 kg/m² increases colorectal cancer risk by 1.16 (relative risk per 5 kg/m²)
03
A 2020 umbrella review reported that physical inactivity was associated with colorectal cancer with pooled relative risks above 1.2 for low activity vs higher activity
04
A 2021 systematic review found that alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (pooled risk ratio >1.1 across dose-response analyses)
05
A 2022 meta-analysis reported that current smoking increases colorectal cancer risk (pooled risk ratio around 1.2–1.3 depending on study design)
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
For the risk factors angle, colorectal cancer risk appears to rise with key lifestyle factors such as a 5 kg/m² BMI increase linked to a 1.16 relative risk, physical inactivity associated with pooled relative risks above 1.2, alcohol with a pooled risk ratio over 1.1, and current smoking raising risk by about 1.2 to 1.3.
10 · Category
Market & Economics3 stats
01
The global market for colorectal cancer diagnostics was estimated at $5.2 billion in 2023
02
The global CRC therapeutics market is projected to reach $22.3 billion by 2032 (from $9.7 billion in 2023) in one market forecast
03
The U.S. health system spent $11.8 billion annually on colorectal cancer in 2013 (direct medical costs)
Interpretation
Market & Economics Interpretation
From a market and economics perspective, colorectal cancer spending is scaling fast with the diagnostics market at $5.2 billion in 2023 and therapeutics growing from $9.7 billion the same year to a projected $22.3 billion by 2032, while the U.S. already spent $11.8 billion annually on direct colorectal cancer costs in 2013.
11 · Category
Treatment & Outcomes4 stats
01
In a real-world study using U.S. claims data (2013–2018), patients with metastatic colorectal cancer averaged 2.5+ distinct lines of therapy during follow-up
02
For MSI-H/dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, pembrolizumab achieved an objective response rate of 33.3% in KEYNOTE-177 (with median duration of response 61.1 weeks)
03
For dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, nivolumab plus ipilimumab in CheckMate 142 reported a 12-month overall survival rate of 79%
04
In the PETACC-8 trial (stage II/III colon cancer), 5-year overall survival for fluoropyrimidine-irinotecan-based adjuvant chemotherapy was 66.2%
Interpretation
Treatment & Outcomes Interpretation
Across treatment and outcomes in metastatic and stage II or III colorectal cancer, outcomes vary widely by therapy and biomarker status, such as 33.3% objective response with pembrolizumab for MSI-H/dMMR disease and a 79% 12 month overall survival with nivolumab plus ipilimumab for dMMR, while real world patients averaged 2.5 or more distinct therapy lines for metastatic colorectal cancer from 2013 to 2018.
report visual · Key figures
Colorectal cancer costs and screening snapshot
A mix of cost and screening indicators shows both the economic burden and gaps in screening uptake.
$11.8 billion
In the U.S., colorectal cancer costs the healthcare system about $11.8 billion annually (direct medical costs, 2013)
14%
Among adults aged 50–75 in the U.S., 14.0% reported not having received any colorectal cancer screening in the past year
54.2%
In the U.S., 54.2% of adults aged 50–75 were up to date with colorectal cancer screening in 2018
source-verifiedjamanetwork.com · cdc.gov2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Bowel Cancer Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bowel-cancer-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Bowel Cancer Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/bowel-cancer-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Bowel Cancer Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bowel-cancer-statistics.
Sources & references
43 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+25 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)