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"Black Panther" star
Chadwick Boseman died August 28, four years after being diagnosed with stage
three colon cancer. He never spoke publicly of his illness.
·
Boseman was 43 years old. Data
suggest bowel cancers are on the rise among people younger than 50.
·
Young people are more likely to be
diagnosed with advanced stages of colorectal cancer.
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Risk factors include genetics and
diet.
Chadwick Boseman, the actor best known as the star of
"Black Panther," died of
complications related to colon cancer August 28, four years after
being diagnosed with the disease.
Boseman's death came as a shock to fans worldwide. He had
never publicly spoken of the illness, and was only 43 years old when he died.
In the past three decades, research has consistently shown a
rise in rates of colon cancer and
related illnesses like rectal cancer among young people.
People over the age of 50 are still at greater risk of
developing colon cancer overall. However, people under 50 are more often
diagnosed with hard-to-treat, advanced forms of the disease.
One study on
1.2 million colon cancer patients from 2004-2015 found that most (51.6%) of the
patients under 50 were diagnosed with stage three or four. 40% of people over
50 were diagnosed at those later stages.
Bowel cancers can be difficult to diagnose because the
symptoms — such as abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue
— are shared with ailments like hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, or
irritable bowel syndrome. What's more, routine testing isn't offered to people
under the age of 50 in many countries, including the US.
If caught early, colon cancer is very treatable, and the
five-year relative survival rate is about 90% if the cancer doesn't spread,
according to the American Cancer
Society.
But it's common for patients to have no symptoms at all
until later stages of the illness. That's why it's important to get screened
regularly, especially if you have risk factors.
Obesity, poor diet, and genetics can all increase risk of
bowel cancers
Genetics is a major risk factor for colon cancer. There's
evidence that cases of bowel cancers are more likely in younger people with
a family history
of the disease.
Eating habits also play a role in bowel cancer risk, and
diets low in fiber and/or high in red meat and processed meat can increase the
risk of the disease. Some experts have hypothesized that the recent popularity
of meat-heavy diets like keto and paleo is partly to blame
for rising cancer rates.
Obesity is also linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer,
as are poor health habits like smoking and excessive alcohol use.
Boseman was reportedly "mostly vegan," according
to the fashion magazine Mr. Porter.
Race and colon cancer
Black people may be disproportionately
affected by colon cancer in the US, studies have
shown.
That is, in part, due to racism, and
barriers to getting medical treatment.
Stress stemming from racism and the hurdles African
Americans historically face in the US also have a tangible impact on
health, studies show.
Symptoms like rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, and
constipation or diarrhea can be warning signs of colon cancer
Many symptoms of colon cancer can also indicate more mundane
illnesses.
For instance, changes in bowel movements like constipation
or diarrhea could indicate colon cancer, but also a plethora of other ailments,
including infections, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue can
also be symptoms.
A major warning sign for colon cancer is rectal bleeding or
bloody stool. While this could be hemorrhoids, you should also consult a
medical professional if you experience this alarming symptom.
Another unique indicator of colon cancer is the feeling of
being unable to empty the bowels, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Colon cancer treatment
The first-line treatment for colon cancer at stages zero or
one is surgery to remove the affected part of the colon.
However, past stage two, chemotherapy is considered,
particularly if it has perforated the colon and/or looks at-risk of resurging
after surgery. Stage two is when the cancer is still localized but is growing.
Stage three, when the cancer has spread to nearby lymph
nodes but not to other organs, requires surgery and chemotherapy, with
additional radiation if the cancer is advancing quickly.
At stage four, when the cancer has spread to other organs,
patients undergo a combination of chemotherapy and surgery, radiation therapy,
and other targeted treatments, to either try to treat the cancer or to
alleviate the pain associated with it.
Everyone 45 and older should get screened regularly for
bowel cancer, but so should younger people at high risk
Bowel cancer is diagnosed with a variety of tests, including
a stool test, colonoscopies, x-ray or CT scan of the bowels. A regular physical
exam can help identify any abnormalities early, and detect the cancer
sooner.
Treatment can vary depending on how far the cancer is
advanced and where in the bowel it is located, but includes some combination of
surgery, radiation therapy, chemo therapy and immunotherapy.
The American Cancer Society recommends that all adults over
45 be tested regularly for colon cancer, even if they have no symptoms.
However, your personal risk factors can determine how frequently you should be
tested, so it's best to talk to your doctor about your health history and
schedule tests accordingly.
"It is very clear that signs and symptoms that might
indicate colorectal rectal cancer in those under 50, and particularly rectal
bleeding, should be evaluated by a health care professional promptly and not
dismissed as 'only hemorrhoids' or 'normal,'" Dr. David Greenwald, a
professor of medicine and gastroenterology at the Icahn School of Medicine at
Mount Sinai, previously told
Insider.
