| Summary: | Colorectal cancer (CRCa) is the 4th most common cancer in the United Kingdom with 41,265 new cases diagnosed in 2014 (Cancer Research UK, 2017). Advancing age is an established risk factor for the development of CRCa (Figure 1.1); between 2012 and 2014 44% of new cancers were diagnosed in patients aged 75 years and over (Cancer Research UK, 2017). Due to our ageing population, national screening programmes and improved diagnostic techniques, a greater number of older people are now being diagnosed with CRCa. However older people are not surviving the disease as well as their younger counterparts. The 5 year survival rate from diagnosis of bowel cancer between 2009 and 2013 was 67.5% for 60-69 year old men and 45.5% for 80-99 year old men. This illustrates an increased burden of this disease in an ageing population (Cancer Research UK, 2017). In general terms, due to improvements in health screening and perioperative care, mortality from CRCa in all populations is decreasing over time. Indeed, the England and Wales age standardised 5 year survival rates for men with CRCa have increased from 24% in the early 1970s to 59% in 2010-11 (Cancer Research UK, 2017). Overall CRCa incidence is increasing over time but this is mirrored by improved survival rates. Age is a significant factor in reduced survival from colorectal cancer and efforts to improve outcomes in elderly CRCa patients should be investigated.
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