In 2002, 70,651 men and 68,883 women were diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer. Among them, 28,471 men and 28,132 women died from this disease. Even more cases are diagnosed in Europe, with 190,000 new cases every year.

This disease strikes people in their middle age and increasingly thereafter. In fact, we find 92% of Colorectal Cancer cases occurring in people over 50.

Current statistics on Colorectal Cancer show an increase from 10 cases per 100,000 people at the age of 40 - 45 years, to 300 cases per 100,000 people at the age of 75 – 80 years.

The lifetime risk of developing this cancer is about 7 percent, in the US.

This cancer is much more frequent in the Western world than in Asia and Africa. However, immigrants to our country also have a higher incidence of Colorectal Cancer than those that stayed behind. Therefore, our high risk of Colorectal Cancer may be related to our different lifestyle, such as our sedentary life and Western dietary habits.

Fortunately it has been found that in animal experiments and in studies of humans that a Calcium-rich diet and Calcium supplements have a protective effect and will lower the risk of Colorectal Cancer. To this end, doctors recommended regular intake of Calcium supplements, as well as physical activity, a diet high in fruits and vegetables but low in fat and red meat, along with other measures.

Sources:

1. University of Maryland Medical Center http://www.umm.edu/altmed/Conssupplements/Calciumcs.html

2. Baron J.A., Beach M., Mandel J.S., et al. Calcium supplements for the prevention of colorectal adenomas.

3. Medicare - http://www.medicare.gov/health/awareness.asp

4. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999-2002. Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report Version.

Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute (cdcinfo@cdc.gov)

5. Anderson W.F., Guyton K.Z., Hiatt R.A., et al. Colorectal cancer screening for persons at average risk. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2002; 94 (15): 1126-1133.

6. Roche http://www.roche.com/home/diseases/dis_can_/dis_can_col.htm

7. National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/colon-and-rectum/page3 .

8. Colon Polyps and Colon Cancer by Donald E. Mansell
http://personalweb.sunset.net/~mansell/polyp.htm

9. Winawer S.J., Zauber A.G., Gerdes H, et al. Risk of Colorectal Cancer in the families of patients with adenomatous polyps. N Engl J Med 1996; 334 : 82-87.

10. Kirsner, J.B., et al. Polyps of the colon and rectum : Statistical analysis of a long term follow-up study. Gastroenterology 39 : 178, 1960.

11. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_cancer.

12. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion. Date last reviewed - 11 / 14 / 2005. cdcinfo@cdc.gov

13. American Cancer Society. Common Questions about Diet and Cancer. Available at www.cancer.org. Last updated 12 / 1 / 2005.

14. Lipkin M, Newmark H. Calcium and Prevention of Colon Cancer. J Cell Biochem Suppl 1995; 22 : 65-73 ( review ).

15. MotherNature.com .

16. Overview : Colon and Rectal Cancer ; How Many People Get Colorectal Cancer?
Revised on: 3/10/2006. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/ CRI_2_2_1X_How_Many_People_Get_Colorectal_Cancer.asp?rnav=cri