Colon cancer should not be a major cause of mortality within ten years. I predict deaths per year will go under 10,000.
The reason is that if polyps are removed before they become malignant, it's very unlikely for cancer to develop. And polyps are often in the colon for many years before becoming cancerous.
The key, therefore, is early detection. Methods of detection are getting better and cheaper. In ten years, it's very possible that as part of an annual exam, a patient will get a CT scan that will be able to detect any polyps. The only ones who will die of colon cancer are those too foolish to have a painless CT scan once a year and those who are extremely unlucky and have some unusual form of cancer that is not detectable.
Here's a question, however. Let's say we get to the point in twenty years that:
1. Detection methods and improved treatment mean that heart problems are more of an inconvenience than a life-threatening ailment for people under the age of 80.
2. Improved detection, surgical techniques, and drugs mean that prostate cancer is neither life-threatening nor much of an impediment to lifestyle.
3. Improved detection causes a significant cut to the risk of mortality from breast cancer.
4. The aforementioned CT scan takes out most of the risk of colon cancer.
If that were all true, a nonsmoker would have a greatly reduced chance of premature death. All the leading cancer killers would be much less of a threat, as would heart disease. Would people be rational actors and then start eating terrible diets to their heart's content? There's some evidence to suggest people are doing that already as treatment for heart disease improves.
I always follow a double-beef cheese and bacon with a Lipitor.