The present state of diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma of colon and rectum in West Germany was presented. The standard operative technique established many years ago by a number of prominent surgeons from different nations such as Kraske, v. Hochenegg, Miles, Quenu, Dixon, Morgan and others, which is still fully valid today, offers 50 per cent cure rate to early cases. As long as the etiology of rectal carcinoma remains unclear, there are only two ways, in which we can hope to improve our results: these are 1) early diagnosis by means of preventive examinations (as practised in Germany) and education of the population, 2) long-term medical follow-up after therapy for rehabilitation and control of recurrences. The coordination of these medical efforts will contribute to the realisation of our wish to cure every second patient with carcinoma of the rectum.