Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer has increased rapidly in both sexes during the last 50 years, and the disease is today the most frequent form of cancer diagnosed in Norway. This paper provides an overview of the incidence, mortality and survival of colorectal cancer in Norway; it discusses known and assumed causality and the prospects for prevention, screening and treatment.
Material and methods: Colorectal cancers diagnosed in Norway were obtained from the Cancer Registry of Norway by location (colon and rectum) and 5-year age group for each year in the period 1953-2005. Data obtained from the NORDCAN, GLOBOCAN and EUROCARE databases were used to compare incidence, mortality and survival in Norway with corresponding data from the Nordic and European countries.
Results: Age-adjusted rates have doubled since the 1960s. Norway used to have a lower risk of colorectal cancer than its Northern European neighbours, but now has the highest rate in the Nordic countries and one of the highest in Europe.
Interpretation: The rates for colorectal cancer appear to be stabilising, especially among the younger generations.