OBJECTIVES: : This study aims to quantify the expected years of life lost (EYLL) that could be saved if the original Healthy People (HP) 2020 target goal for reducing invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) was met. METHODS: A total of 232,208 patients diagnosed with invasive CRC in 2000–2011 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries. The lifetime survival functions for the cancer cohort and age-/sex-matched reference population were generated using a semiparametric extrapolation method with annual US life tables from 2000-2011. The EYLL for CRC was calculated by subtracting the estimated life expectancy of CRC patients from that of the reference population. The total EYLL that could be prevented was calculated by subtracting the age-adjusted incidence of invasive CRC rate of the base year from that of the target year multiplied by the average EYLL per person and the 2020 population projections. RESULTS: An individual diagnosed with invasive CRC was estimated to have an average life-expectancy of 10.1 years and 6.8 EYLL. If the HP 2020 target goal for invasive CRC was met, the nation could potentially save an estimated 154,848 EYLL. For men and women with an invasive CRC, estimated EYLL were 74,528 and 79,334, respectively. By race, reducing invasive CRC would result in a significantly greater benefit for both black men and women compared to white men and women with p<0.05. The estimated EYLL was 7.4 and 8.0 years for black men and women and 6.4 and 6.1 years for white men and women per person, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The potential life years saved by successfully meeting the HP 2020 target for invasive CRC rate would be substantial for the nation. The benefit in terms of life years saved per person would be greater among blacks relative to whites.