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At just 43 years old, Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman has died of colon cancer in his home with his wife and family by his side, according to a message shared on his Instagram page. He was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016, and it eventually progressed to stage 4.
What is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancers, which include colon cancer, are the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The ACS estimates that more than 104,610 new cases of colon cancer and more than 43,000 cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed this year.
While the rate at which people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the U.S. is dropping among people who are 65 and older, it’s rising in younger people, per data from the ACS. In fact, an estimated 12% of colorectal cancer cases—about 18,000—will be diagnosed in people under the age of 50
Why are colon cancer rates and deaths rising in young people?
A 2017 study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that people younger than 55 are 58% more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage colorectal cancer than older people. This is “largely due to delayed follow-up of symptoms, sometimes for years, because cancer is typically not on the radar of young adults or their providers,” the authors wrote.
Experts are still trying to figure out which underlying environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors could play a role in the rise of colon cancer in young people. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, a diet high in red or processed meats, smoking, a family history of colorectal polyps or cancer, among other factors can all increase a person’s risk.
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
Spotting the symptoms of colon cancer early on is crucial. In fact, the colon cancer survival rate is about 90% if caught in the early stages, when the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. These are the signs to note:
- A change in bowel habits, including diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so
- Rectal bleeding
- Dark stools, or blood in the stool
- Cramping or stomach pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
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