Five-Year Survival Rates

(from the National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query system, July 2002)

Prognosis is related to the degree of tumor penetration through the bowel wall and the presence of involved lymph nodes.

Survival Rates: Colon and Rectum
Stage Survival Rate
Stage 0 >96%
Stage I 80-95%
Stage II 55-80%
Stage III 35-55% involved lymph nodes
Stage IV < 15% distant metastases
Survival Rates: Anus
Stage Survival Rate
Stage 0 100%
Stage I > 98%
Stage II 80%
Stage IIIA 65%
Stage IIIB 15%
Stage IV Unusual