In 2014, an estimated 71,830 men and 65,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, with 26,270 men and 24,040 women expected to die from the disease. Over 29% of male deaths and 43% of female deaths occur in individuals aged 80 and older. Incidence rates vary by age and race, with higher rates in blacks and lower in Asians/Pacific Islanders. Overall, incidence rates decreased by about 3% per year from 2001 to 2010, with the largest drops in adults aged 65 and older. Colorectal cancer death rates declined by about 2% per year in the 1990s and 3% per year in the past decade. Progress in reducing death rates can be accelerated by improving access to and use of screening and standard treatment. Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates are highest in men and lowest in women. Men have 30% to 40% higher rates than women overall, though this disparity varies by age. Incidence and mortality rates also vary substantially by race and ethnicity, with blacks having the highest rates and Asians/Pacific Islanders the lowest. Socioeconomic disparities contribute to these differences, with blacks having a higher poverty rate and lower access to healthcare. Colorectal cancer rates vary widely within the U.S., with higher rates in certain states and subpopulations. Colorectal cancer survival rates do not vary substantially by sex, with a 5-year relative survival rate of 64.9% for patients diagnosed from 2003 to 2009. Survival declines with later stages of the disease, with 5-year survival rates of 90.3% for localized disease and 12.5% for distant-stage disease. Survival disparities are influenced by differences in access to screening, treatment, and comorbidities. Black patients have lower survival rates than white patients, but disparities disappear when adjusted for tumor characteristics, patient demographics, and treatment. Colorectal cancer incidence rates have decreased over the past decade, with the largest drops among adults aged 65 and older. The decline is attributed to increased screening, particularly colonoscopy, which increased from 19% in 2000 to 55% in 2010 among adults aged 50 to 75 years. Mortality rates have also decreased, with a 3% annual decline from 2001 to 2010. The largest declines occurred among non-Hispanic whites and black women. Mortality rates have decreased since 1980 in men and since 1947 in women, with declines attributed to improvements in treatment, changes in risk factors, and increased screeningIn 2014, an estimated 71,830 men and 65,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, with 26,270 men and 24,040 women expected to die from the disease. Over 29% of male deaths and 43% of female deaths occur in individuals aged 80 and older. Incidence rates vary by age and race, with higher rates in blacks and lower in Asians/Pacific Islanders. Overall, incidence rates decreased by about 3% per year from 2001 to 2010, with the largest drops in adults aged 65 and older. Colorectal cancer death rates declined by about 2% per year in the 1990s and 3% per year in the past decade. Progress in reducing death rates can be accelerated by improving access to and use of screening and standard treatment. Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates are highest in men and lowest in women. Men have 30% to 40% higher rates than women overall, though this disparity varies by age. Incidence and mortality rates also vary substantially by race and ethnicity, with blacks having the highest rates and Asians/Pacific Islanders the lowest. Socioeconomic disparities contribute to these differences, with blacks having a higher poverty rate and lower access to healthcare. Colorectal cancer rates vary widely within the U.S., with higher rates in certain states and subpopulations. Colorectal cancer survival rates do not vary substantially by sex, with a 5-year relative survival rate of 64.9% for patients diagnosed from 2003 to 2009. Survival declines with later stages of the disease, with 5-year survival rates of 90.3% for localized disease and 12.5% for distant-stage disease. Survival disparities are influenced by differences in access to screening, treatment, and comorbidities. Black patients have lower survival rates than white patients, but disparities disappear when adjusted for tumor characteristics, patient demographics, and treatment. Colorectal cancer incidence rates have decreased over the past decade, with the largest drops among adults aged 65 and older. The decline is attributed to increased screening, particularly colonoscopy, which increased from 19% in 2000 to 55% in 2010 among adults aged 50 to 75 years. Mortality rates have also decreased, with a 3% annual decline from 2001 to 2010. The largest declines occurred among non-Hispanic whites and black women. Mortality rates have decreased since 1980 in men and since 1947 in women, with declines attributed to improvements in treatment, changes in risk factors, and increased screening