Increased risks in the Black Community create greater need for awareness and screening.
by Mikisha Plesco, Dir. of Operations, GRAAHI
Chadwick Boseman was a beloved actor and playwright that was known for his iconic roles such as 42 (portraying Jackie Robinson), Get on Up (portraying James Brown), and Marshall (portraying Thurgood Marshall), Boseman is most known for his role as T’Challa in Black Panther which made him known worldwide. Unknowingly the world watched Boseman silently and slowly die from stage III colon cancer in 2020, which he was diagnosed with in 2016. Boseman gave his best work all the way up to the end with his last film being Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Boseman’s fight with colorectal cancer was a silent one that shocked the world, but there are approximately 1.8 new cases worldwide. According to the American Cancer Association there are 106,180 new cases of colon cancer and 44,850 new rectal cancer per year in the United States. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s image below displays the impact of colorectal cancer by sex, race, and ethnicity which shows African American and women have a higher incidence and mortality rate than other races.
Mayo Clinic indicates that colorectal symptoms include, but are not limited to the following:
- A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool
- Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
- Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
- A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
- Weakness or fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- No symptoms at all especially in early stages and location
The Mayo Clinic further explains that symptoms may vary from person to person and to seek a provider if you have any persistent symptoms. The typical guidelines is for colorectal screening over 50 years old, but Boseman was 43 years old. If you have any changes that are not normal for your body then seek medical advice.
Mayo Clinic further indicates the risk factors of colorectal cancer are the following:
- Older age. Colon cancer can be diagnosed at any age, but a majority of people with colon cancer are older than 50. The rates of colon cancer in people younger than 50 have been increasing, but doctors aren’t sure why.
- African-American race. African-Americans have a greater risk of colon cancer than do people of other races.
- A personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps. If you’ve already had colon cancer or noncancerous colon polyps, you have a greater risk of colon cancer in the future.
- Inflammatory intestinal conditions. Chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, can increase your risk of colon cancer.
- Inherited syndromes that increase colon cancer risk. Some gene mutations passed through generations of your family can increase your risk of colon cancer significantly. Only a small percentage of colon cancers are linked to inherited genes. The most common inherited syndromes that increase colon cancer risk are familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Lynch syndrome, which is also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).
- Family history of colon cancer. You’re more likely to develop colon cancer if you have a blood relative who has had the disease. If more than one family member has colon cancer or rectal cancer, your risk is even greater.
- Low-fiber, high-fat diet. Colon cancer and rectal cancer may be associated with a typical Western diet, which is low in fiber and high in fat and calories. Research in this area has had mixed results. Some studies have found an increased risk of colon cancer in people who eat diets high in red meat and processed meat.
- A sedentary lifestyle. People who are inactive are more likely to develop colon cancer. Getting regular physical activity may reduce your risk of colon cancer.
- Diabetes. People with diabetes or insulin resistance have an increased risk of colon cancer.
- Obesity. People who are obese have an increased risk of colon cancer and an increased risk of dying of colon cancer when compared with people considered normal weight.
- Smoking. People who smoke may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
- Alcohol. Heavy use of alcohol increases your risk of colon cancer.
- Radiation therapy for cancer. Radiation therapy directed at the abdomen to treat previous cancers increases the risk of colon cancer.
The National Cancer Institute indicates the following ways to prevent or reduce your risk of colorectal cancer which is key:
- If you are over 50 years old and have average risk factors, then be screened for colorectal cancer. Please seek your provider’s recommendation based on your personal risk factors.
- Avoid smoking
- Regular exercise
- Healthy diet
- If you are at high risk then taking medicines to treat a precancerous condition or to keep cancer from starting under a provider’s guidance.
The National Cancer Institute states, “Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may lower your risk, but does not mean that you will not get cancer.” It may improve the outcome if you are diagnosed with cancer. Early detection may mean a difference of survival.
Boseman, an alumni of Howard University, was proud to represent the university and completed a commencement speech that impacted the class of 2018 when he left them with these words, “Forget their stories, I can tell my own stories … Sometimes you need to get knocked down before you can really figure out what your fight is and how you need to fight it. When I dared to challenge the systems that would relegate us to victims and stereotypes with no clear historical backgrounds, no hopes or talents, when I questioned that method of portrayal, a different path opened up for me — a path to my destiny. When God has something for you, it doesn’t matter who stands against it.”
To have a fighting chance against colorectal cancer, please talk to your provider about changes in health, know your risk factors, make necessary changes to decrease risk factors, and be screened for colorectal cancer.
To learn more, tune into our panel discussion on March 22nd at 11am EST. Click here to register (https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/-uqeteTVxbsmR4LHu8NKXQ) or watch live in GRAAHI social channels.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
https://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/patient/colorectal-prevention-pdq
https://www.who.int/health-topics/#C
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/about/data-briefs/no16-colorectal-cancer-2007-2016.htm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colon-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353669
