Sutter Health Cancer Services and Programs

C o l o r e c t a l C a n c e r ( 1 9 9 5 - 2 0 0 4 )Age at DiagnosisThe overall median age at diagnosis was 73 years for colon cancer and 69 years forrectal cancer. For colon cancer the median age ranged from 72 (ABMC), (SRMC) and(MMC)) to 75 (EMC), (MGH), (MPHS), (SMCS), while rectal cancer ranged from 66(SMCS and MMC) to 73 (EMC). Overall, women were diagnosed at a slightly olderage than males for both colon (75 vs. 72) and rectal cancer (71 vs. 67), a trend that ismirrored in national data (colon – females 75 vs. males 71; rectum – females 70 vs.males 67). Figure 3 (page 20) reflects this trend, showing that for both colon andrectal cancer, compared to males, females show relatively fewer diagnoses in the50–69 age range and relatively more diagnoses in the 80+ age range. For both colonand rectal cancer and both genders, patients were most commonly diagnosed in the70–79 age range. An analysis of age distribution among Sutter Health institutionsrevealed markedly similar and consistent patterns.Just over 90% of both males and females with colorectal cancer were diagnosedafter age 50. These data are consistent with national data and screeningrecommendations, which indicate routine screening should begin at age 50 oryounger, if individual risk factors apply.Gender RatioThe overall distribution of colorectal cancer cases by gender show similar proportionsfor females (51%) and males (49%). Looking just at colon cancer, females withcolon cancer slightly outnumbered males at almost all hospitals (53% female vs.47% male, overall; Figure 4, page 21). A trend in the opposite direction was seenfor rectal cancer, where females were slightly outnumbered by males at almost allhospitals (46% female vs. 54% male, overall). This same trend was seen in our 2000colorectal study.Race/EthnicityColon and rectal cancer showed nearly identical patterns of race distribution(Figure 5, page 21), with differences among institutions probably reflecting thedemographics of the patient populations served. Overall, 74% of Sutter Healthcolorectal cancer patients were Caucasian. SMCS had the lowest percentage ofCaucasians (43–45%) due to large African-American and Asian components. ABMCand CPMC also had relatively lower percentages of Caucasians, reflecting largeAfrican-American (ABMC) and Asian (CPMC) populations.2005 Annual Cancer Center Report — 2004 Statistical Review | 15