Minimal excess mortality for long-term colon cancer survivors in the Netherlands 1989-2008

The prognosis for colon cancer survivors improved with each additional year survived. In the first years after diagnosis conditional survival improved largely for all colon cancer patients, especially for stage III patients. There was minimal excess mortality for colon cancer patients stage I-III at some point within 15 years of diagnosis, being later for more advanced stages. Quantitative insight into conditional survival for cancer patients is useful for caregivers to help plan optimal cancer surveillance and inform patients about their prognosis.