Chadwick Boseman, who gained fame for portraying the superhero Black Panther in Marvel movies, died on Friday at age 43. The actor suffered from colorectal (or colon) cancer for four years , according to his representatives.
"Chadwick was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016," his family said in a statement. According to this, the actor's cancer was in stage 3 and progressing to 4. He never made his disease public.
It is a disease that increasingly affects minorities.
" African Americans are disproportionately diagnosed with colorectal cancer and die of this disease at younger ages than other ethnic groups," Dr. Richina Bicette told CNN this morning.
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The American Cancer Society (ACS) has already warned that minorities are more likely to develop cancer and die from it compared to the general population . Particularly in the case of colorectal cancer.
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Aug. 1, 202002: 27Deaths from this disease are much more common in populations with limited access to early screening and treatment, including African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians and Alaska Natives, added Dr. Jonca Bull, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Office on Minority Health.
" Early detection, referrals and treatment can significantly reduce disparities in colorectal cancer deaths," he warned.
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Also, this type of cancer is growing in young people , according to the ACS. Every day 49 new cases are diagnosed in people under 50 years of age.
In the United States, it is the third deadliest cancer in men and women, after lung and prostate cancer in men and lung and breast cancer in women.
"All of a sudden, there has been a steady increase and it is expected to continue. So it is not an isolated phenomenon," Dr. Kimmie Ng, founding director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, told TODAY. Boston, one of the few places in the world dedicated to researching why colorectal cancer has suddenly exploded among young people.
One of the main hypotheses on why this cancer attacks young people is obesity. But most Ng patients exercise, eat a healthy diet, and have a healthy body weight, according to the doctor.
"It's the only question in cancer research that honestly keeps me awake at night," Ng confesses.
For years, 50 was considered the age to have a colonoscopy (to see the colon inside). But after the increase in cases, the ACS lowered its guidelines at age 45.
Scientists knew that colorectal cancer cases increased in younger age groups. "But we were surprised by how quickly this is happening," Rebecca Siegel, scientific director of surveillance research at the ACS in Atlanta, told CNN.
According to a recent study, earlier detection would identify 30,000 cancer cases and prevent 11,000 deaths in the next five years.
However, most insurances still do not cover the cost of exams before age 50, which means that people are forced to assume it with their own resources.
As with any cancer, early detection is key. This type of cancer may not cause symptoms right away. The ACS recommends seeing a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- change in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation for several days)
- feeling the need to go to the bathroom, but not feeling relieved after going
- blood in the rectum or stool
- abdominal cramps or pain
- weakness or fatigue
- weightloss
With information from TODAY, CNN and FDA.
