Chadwick Boseman’s widow has warned young people they are “grossly underestimating” their risk of colon cancer, after losing her husband to the disease which is on the rise among young people.
Taylor Simone Ledward-Boseman urged those under 50 to watch for symptoms such as changes in bowel movements and blood in the stool, because the disease will become the leading cause of death in that age group by 2030.
Speaking at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, he also urged people to attend screenings, which are available to people in the U.S. age 45 and older, saying cancer was ” treatable when caught early.
The world was shocked when her husband Chadwick Boseman died from the disease in August 2020 at the age of 43 after secretly battling the disease privately for four years.
Other notable cases include Broadway actor Quentin Lee, who died of cancer in December 2022 at the age of 34.
Taylor Simone Ledward-Boseman is pictured above with Chadwick Boseman at the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, California in January 2019.
He is pictured at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, giving a keynote speech to raise awareness about the disease.
Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your stool, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside the intestine that can cause blockages. Some people also experience weight loss as a result of these symptoms.
Speaking at the hospital, which has a dedicated unit for young bowel cancer patients, Mrs Ledward-Boseman said: “Bowl cancer is killing young people across the country, and most vastly underestimate their risk.”
‘I have seen how this disease progresses and now I know how treatable it is when detected early.
“My personal advocacy comes from this realization and the disappointment I feel at the lack of awareness in my community.”
And he added: ‘We, who have this knowledge, have the obligation to inform our fellow human beings. Raising awareness will save lives.’
She was the keynote speaker at the fifth annual patient and family forum at the colon cancer center.
Statistics show that colon cancer cases are expected to increase more than 140 percent among those under 50 by 2030, with around 27,000 patients expected to be diagnosed each year.
It is also expected that more than 4,000 deaths from colon cancer will be recorded by this date, as this cancer becomes the main cause of death in this age group. In 1998 it was the fourth largest.
Most patients are around 40 years old, although cases are also being recorded more frequently among people between 30 and 21 years old.
Black adults are most at risk, with a 20 percent higher risk of cancer than other ethnic groups and a 40 percent higher risk of death.
Data from JAMA Surgery, which Dr. Lieu referenced in his presentation this weekend, showed that colon cancer is expected to increase by 90 percent in people ages 20 to 34.
The same data shows that rectal cancer will increase by 124 percent in the youngest age group
Colon cancer is a major killer because its symptoms are often nonspecific and go undetected in the early stages, meaning the disease is not diagnosed until the later stages, when it has spread to other parts of the body and is more difficult to treat.
Chadwick Boseman of South Carolina was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2016, and the cancer had spread through his colon and into his lymph nodes.
He spent four years fighting the disease through repeated surgeries and chemotherapy, while filming movies like Marvel’s Black Panther.
He died of cancer after a four-year battle, and the revelation shocked the world: the actor still appeared healthy.
Colon cancer is a leading cause of death because it is difficult to detect in the early stages, and sufferers often miss symptoms such as changes in bowel movements and blood in the stool.
This means that it is often not detected until it is more advanced and has spread to other areas of the body, making it more difficult to treat.
Data shows that about 97 percent of patients survive more than five years after their diagnosis if the cancer is detected in the early stages.
But if it is not detected until the late stage, the survival rate drops to 14 percent. Almost a quarter of patients are diagnosed at this stage.
Warning of the rise, Dana-Farber cancer expert Dr Kimmie Ng said: “The alarming rise in early-onset colorectal cancer underscores the urgent need for increased awareness, early detection and comprehensive research to understand the underlying causes. and Develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.
‘Coping with colorectal cancer that appears at an early age requires not only resilience but also advocacy.
‘We thank Simone Ledward-Boseman for bravely sharing her personal experience as a carer.
“Her continued support of awareness efforts honors the incredible legacy of her late husband, Chadwick Boseman.”