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대장암 · Colorectal cancer · ICD-10 C18-C20
Colorectal cancer: treatment options in Korea
Korea's 5-year relative survival for colorectal cancer is 75.6% and China's is 55.7%. In the international CONCORD-3 study, Korea's 5-year survival for colon cancer (71.8%) and rectal cancer (71.1%) was among the highest in the world. Korea runs a fecal occult blood test every year from age 50, with colonoscopy if positive, and the 5-year survival of colorectal cancer found at a localized stage is 94.9%.
Why consider Korea
- 5-year relative survival 75.6% (diagnosed 2019–2023)[1]
- 5-year relative survival of colorectal cancer found at a localized stage is 94.9%[3]
- International CONCORD-3 study (diagnosed 2010–2014, 71 countries and territories): Korea's colon cancer 71.8% and rectal cancer 71.1% (5-year net survival), the highest in the world for these two cancers in the report[4]
- National cancer screening: a fecal occult blood test every year from age 50, with colonoscopy if abnormal[5]
- Colorectal cancer screening participation was 74.4% in 2024[6]
- COREAN trial: for mid-to-low rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy, 10-year overall survival after laparoscopic surgery was 76.8%, with no significant difference from open surgery (74.1%)[7]
Korea vs. China
Korean figures are for patients diagnosed in 2019–2023 and Chinese figures for patients diagnosed in 2019–2021. Both are 5-year relative survival rates published by each country's national cancer center. The years and methods are not identical, so only the rough gap is meaningful. Relative survival is compared with the general population of the same age, so values above 100% can occur. Korea's high survival for stomach and colorectal cancer is closely linked to national cancer screening, which finds more cancers early.
| Item | Korea | China | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it is found | Fecal occult blood test every year from age 50, with colonoscopy if positive; participation in 2024 was 74.4% | For lung, stomach, esophageal, colorectal and breast cancer combined, stage I accounts for only 19.9% at diagnosis | The Chinese figure combines five major cancers and comes from the Guideline for Cancer-Prevention Checkups in Health Examination Institutions (2025 edition) issued by the National Cancer Center and others; it is not a colorectal-cancer-only number[5][6][8] |
Treatments
Colonoscopic resection (polypectomy, EMR, ESD) Surgery
Polyps, adenomas and early cancers that qualify are removed directly during colonoscopy. In Korea people aged 50 and over have a fecal occult blood test every year, and a positive result leads to colonoscopy, so many lesions are removed before they turn cancerous or at an early stage.Laparoscopic colorectal surgery Surgery
A few small holes are made in the abdomen and a laparoscope is used to remove the section of colon or rectum with the tumor, along with nearby lymph nodes. The Korean COREAN randomized trial verified the long-term safety of laparoscopic surgery for mid-to-low rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy.Robotic rectal cancer surgery Surgery
The rectum lies deep in the narrow pelvis, surrounded by the nerves that control defecation, urination and sexual function. The robot's arms can bend and the view is magnified, allowing fine dissection in the pelvis that keeps the anus and nerve function as far as possible.Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy Radiotherapy
For locally advanced mid-to-low rectal cancer, a few weeks of radiotherapy plus chemotherapy are given first to shrink the tumor, and surgery follows. The aim is to lower local recurrence and improve the chance of keeping the anus.Hospitals
Seoul National University Hospital 서울대학교병원
Seoul National University Cancer Hospital colorectal cancer center; specializes in recurrent and hereditary colorectal cancerAsan Medical Center, Seoul 서울아산병원
Cancer Hospital colorectal cancer center; the colorectal and anal surgery team performs laparoscopic and robotic surgerySamsung Medical Center 삼성서울병원
Newsweek 2026 oncology: 3rd in the world; colorectal cancer centerSeverance Hospital, Yonsei University 세브란스병원
Colorectal and anal surgery; all attending surgeons perform minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgeryKorea University Anam Hospital 고려대학교 안암병원
Colorectal and anal surgery; specializes in advanced, recurrent and peritoneal-metastatic colorectal cancerDoctors
Kyu Joo Park 박규주 · Seoul National University Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, anal cancer, recurrent cancer, retroperitoneal tumors, sarcoma[9]Seung-Yong Jeong 정승용 · Seoul National University Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: colorectal cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, anal cancer, recurrent colorectal cancer, hereditary colorectal cancer, familial polyposis[9]Seok-Byung Lim 임석병 · Asan Medical Center, Seoul
Specialties listed on the hospital website: colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery[10]In Ja Park 박인자 · Asan Medical Center, Seoul
Specialties listed on the hospital website: colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, laparoscopic, robotic surgery[10]Woo Yong Lee 이우용 · Samsung Medical Center
Specialties listed on the hospital website: colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, hereditary colorectal cancer, laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery[11]Hee Cheol Kim 김희철 · Samsung Medical Center
Specialties listed on the hospital website: colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, hereditary colorectal cancer, metastatic colorectal cancer, robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, single-port laparoscopic surgery[11]Byung Soh Min 민병소 · Severance Hospital, Yonsei University
Specialties listed on the hospital website: colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, hereditary colorectal cancer, minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic or robotic)[12]Hyuk Hur 허혁 · Severance Hospital, Yonsei University
Specialties listed on the hospital website: colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, inguinal hernia, minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic or robotic)[12]Jin Kim 김진 · Korea University Anam Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: colorectal cancer, anal cancer, advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer, peritoneal metastases, pelvic tumors, laparoscopic or robotic surgery, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)[13]Coming to Korea for treatment
Documents to prepare: Colonoscopy report and biopsy pathology, Contrast-enhanced abdominal and pelvic CT, Rectal cancer needs a pelvic MRI, Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and similar tests, Previous treatment records
Time in Korea: about 7~14 daysestimate, of which in hospital about 5~10 days
After returning home: After surgery, CT, tumor markers and colonoscopy are repeated regularly as your doctor arranges; if chemotherapy is needed afterwards, discuss with the Korean doctor about finishing it at home.
FAQ
- Does rectal cancer always mean losing the anus?
- Not necessarily. Many mid-to-low rectal cancers can be shrunk by preoperative chemoradiotherapy and then removed with laparoscopic or robotic surgery that keeps the anus. Whether it can be kept depends on how far the tumor is from the anus and how it responds to treatment, and is decided by the doctor.
- Is laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery as effective as open surgery?
- In Korea's COREAN trial, 340 patients with mid-to-low rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy were followed for 10 years: overall survival was 76.8% for laparoscopic and 74.1% for open surgery, with no significant difference.[7]
- Why is survival from colorectal cancer high in Korea?
- One important reason is screening: people aged 50 and over have a fecal occult blood test every year and a positive result leads to colonoscopy; participation was 74.4% in 2024, and many lesions are removed at an early stage or even at the polyp stage. The 5-year survival of colorectal cancer found at a localized stage is 94.9%.[5][6][3]