By Alexa Spencer
2020 was a hard year for Black folks in so many ways: COVID-19, police brutality, job loss. But what else made it hard? Colon cancer.
On August 28, we lost Chadwick Boseman. The Black Panther star was just 43-years-old when he succumbed to the disease. And only three months later on Dec. 7, Natalie Desselle Reid, an actress known for her roles in “Madea’s Big Happy Family” and “B.A.P.S.,” died from it at age 53.
The public deaths of Boseman and Reid remind us of the many Black men and women who die from colon cancer each year behind closed doors. According to the American Cancer Society, Black people are 20% more likely to develop colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups.
“This disease is ravaging the Black community, and it is as important as ever that everyone has access to and is receiving the recommended screenings,” Durado Brooks, vice president of prevention and early detection at the Society, said in a statement after Boseman’s passing.
So here are four facts to help folks better understand what colon cancer is, why it disproportionately impacts Black folks, and the role diet plays in prevention and treatment.
- What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer, also known as colon or rectal cancer, is an overgrowth of cells in the colon or rectum. The colon is the large intestine, and the rectum is the canal that connects it to the anus. The two parts of the digestive system work together to remove waste from the body.
People with colorectal cancer don’t always experience symptoms. If they do, it may include a change in bowel habits, bloody stools, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss.
- What’s causing colon cancer in the Black community?
There are multiple reasons why Black people get colon cancer more than other groups. Lack of access to healthcare and fresh, affordable foods are two major reasons.
Additionally, colorectal cancer often appears in Black men and women on the right side of their colon more than the left, which leads to poorer outcomes. Right-sided colon cancer patients tend to have larger tumors because the colon is larger on that side, so tumors may grow larger before causing symptoms. Whereas left-sided colon cancer, which appears more often in white Americans, is easier to detect early on.
- Early detection is important
If detected early, colon cancer patients have a high chance of surviving. Those chances decrease if the cancer spreads to other parts of the body.
Commonly used screening types include:
- Fecal occult blood test: This test takes a small sample of stool to detect polyps, cancer, or other conditions.
- Sigmoidoscopy: A thin tube with a light and a lens is inserted through the anus rectum and into the lower colon for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove polyps or tissue samples.
- Colonoscopy: Similar to a sigmoidoscopy, a thin, lighted tube is inserted into the rectum to look for polyps, abnormal areas, or cancer. This procedure goes throughout the entire colon.
- Virtual colonoscopy: A series of X-rays are used to examine the colon.
- DNA stool test: This test examines DNA in stool cells for genetic signs of colorectal cancer.
- Blood tests: The first blood test to screen for colorectal cancer could be approved soon. New research found that a test by Guardant Health was 83% effective in detecting the cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends men and women begin regular screenings at age 45. However, this recommendation can be problematic for Black folks who, like Boseman, develop the disease or die before that age.
Lack of knowledge and failure to recommend screenings is another barrier. The overall patient-provider experience needs to improve. A 2011 study found that Black men who reported healthcare racism were less likely to have completed recommended colorectal cancer screenings.
- How much of a difference can diet make?
Certain foods can cause inflammation in the bowels and gut, which is a factor in colorectal cancer development. According to research, the main foods that cause inflammation and may contribute to colorectal cancer are sugar, animal fats, and red and processed meats.
A 2019 study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that people who ate red or processed meat four or more times a week had a 20% higher risk of colorectal cancer than those who ate it twice a week or less.
On the other hand, plant-based diets are associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains — especially those high in fiber — benefit the gastrointestinal tract.
This article was originally published in Word In Black.
