This study of 154 men and 152 women with cancer of the colon or rectum addresses the lag between the first recognition of symptoms and the securing of definitive diagnosis and treatment. Total treatment delay is divided into two categories: patient delay, or the lag between the patient's fust recognition of symptoms and first physician contact; diagnostic delay, or the lag between the patient's first physician contact and treatment. The results do not support the contention that women are more prone than men to respond to cancer symptoms; women in this sample are not more likely than men to recognize and respond to symptoms and seek care. The results suggest that, among patients with cancer of the rectum, women are more likely than men to delay in seeking care. Among patients with cancer of the colon, women are more likely than men to experience diagnostic delay.