The Impact of Age on Colorectal Cancer Incidence, Treatment, and Outcomes in an Equal-Access Health Care System

Abstract

In an equal-access system, young age at presentation (<50 years) was associated with advanced stage and higher recurrence of colorectal cancer, but similar survival in comparison with older patients. Although increased adjuvant therapy use in younger patients may partially account for stage-specific increases in survival, the relative decreased chemotherapy use overall requires further evaluation.