Diagnosis and survival in carcinoma of the large bowel

Diagnostic delay was measured in 455 consecutive patients who had large bowel cancer and it was found to be less pronounced than in a previous study in the same hospitals. However overall corrected five year survival remained the same. The duration of symptoms was not correlated with the stage of the disease, nor with five year survival. The pattern of disease resembled other Western series, with an overall corrected five year survival rate of 33.2%. Prognosis was significantly better in women and worse in patients with an elevated ESR on presentation. Intestinal obstruction due to carcinoma did not adversely affect prognosis.