Chadwick Boseman’s death stunned millions of people. The actor, best known for playing the titular role in the superhero movie “Black Panther,” battled colon cancer since 2016. During his illness, Chadwick went through chemotherapy and surgery while still filming movies.
Colon cancer is a serious disease that affects thousands of Americans. The American Cancer Society estimates that almost 105,000 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in 2020. Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in men and women. About 50,000 will die from colon cancer this year.
If Chadwick’s death made you feel concerned about your own health and colon cancer risk, read on for two important takeaways from his story.
It’s not known why, but Black people have the highest rates of diagnosis and the highest rates of death from colon cancer of all racial groups in the United States. This is especially true for Black men.
Chadwick was only 43 when he died from colon cancer. Many people assume that colon cancer affects older people. They’re right; the median age at diagnosis is 68 for men and 72 for women. But diagnoses of colorectal cancer in adults under 55 have increased almost 2 percent since the mid-1990s. Although colonoscopies are more common, rates of death from colon cancer in this age group are also rising.
Research from the American Cancer Society found that new cases of colorectal cancer are being diagnosed at an increasing rate among young and middle-aged adults in the US. After taking age into account, those born in 1990 have double the risk of colon cancer compared to those born around 1950, when risk was lowest.
The American Cancer Society recommends colon cancer screening begins at 45. However, if you have risk factors, ask your gastroenterologist about starting screening earlier.
A colonoscopy is the gold standard of colon cancer screening. A colonoscopy is one of the few cancer screenings that prevent cancer. During a colonoscopy, a gastroenterologist uses a small tool called a scope to look at the lining of your colon and rectum. They are looking for polyps, small growths that can become cancerous. If found, these precancerous polyps are removed.
Do you have one or more risk factors for colon cancer? Are you ready for your first colonoscopy? Are you due for your next? Make an appointment today.
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