The situation of detection and treatment of colonic and rectal cancer in the capital of the G.D.R. Berlin is described for the period 1960--1969 and analyzed in comparison to other periods and regions. This study is based on the regional cancer registry and therefore free of the selection bias in clinical statistics. In the ten year period, 3855 new cases were registered (colon 2158, rectum 1697). The proportion of old patients is high, 66 percent were 65 years and older, 28% 75 and more years old. About 41% of patients seek medical advice within four weeks after first symptoms and about 60 percent of cancers were treated within one month after first consultation. The locaized stages I and II amounted to 46 percent of cases. There was only loose relation between duration of history and stage of disease. In nearly 39% of cases radical operation was performed and 27% were not treated by surgery. 5-year survival rates of colonic and rectal cancer in the period 1960--1964 amounted to 12% for all stages irrespeitive of method of treatment and 31% for patients after radical surgery. Survival rates depend on stage, on mode of treatment and on age. In the period from 1955 to 1973, proportion of old patients increased, distribution of stages remained nearly constant but proportion of cases radically operated on increased by 3%. Comparison of the regions of Berlin and Erfurt showed only small differences. Compared with international reports, survival rate is very low in Berlin, presumably due to complete registration of new cases and high number of very old people with colonic and rectal cancer.