The incidence of colon cancer increases with age. With national screening in Denmark, the incidence of early stage cancer is high. With the increasing possibilities of personalised treatment for colon cancer, it is important to choose the right treatment for the right patient. Patient characteristics such as age, co-morbidity, low functioning level and frailty increases the risk of post-operative adverse outcomes. The pathologic assessment and assessment of the patient's immune system offers many tools for assessing the patient's long-term outcomes such as relapse and mortality, and this is discussed in this review.