Colorectal cancer crc is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths worldwide as society ages the number of elderly patients with crc will increase the percentage of patients with right sided colon cancer and the incidence of microsatellite instability are higher in elderly than in younger patients with crc. Colon cancer in seniors ninety percent of the time colon cancer occurs in those who are over age 50 also called colorectal cancer this disease is the second leading cause of cancer death in the united states claiming the lives of almost 50000 men and women annually colorectal cancer age related myths. Colon cancer in the elderly develops with a polyp growth of tissue that grows into the colon if this polyp isnt found and removed it can develop into cancer bowel cancer in the elderly can affect the rectum colon or anus. Colorectal cancer is a disease of older adults with a median age at diagnosis of 67 years 1 with the aging population oncologists will be faced with treating increasing numbers of older patients and must adjust their practice to accommodate this population of patients