Posted on 06/22/2021 1:50:24 PM PDT by blam
Actor Chadwick Boseman died last year at the age of 43 from stage 4 colon cancer. The “Black Panther” star represents a troubling trend of men younger than 49 who are at an unusually high risk of dying from colorectal cancer. According to a study published in the American Journal of Cancer Research, despite the overall reduction in the cases of colorectal cancer in America, there are geographical “hot spots” where cases of this potentially deadly cancer are soaring.
June is National Men’s Health Month and it is critical that American men pay attention to their risk factors for developing cancer. This is especially important for men who live in, or grew up in, the areas identified as hot spots for colorectal cancer.
According to STAT, Black men in these areas are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stages of colorectal cancer and are also more likely to die from it than white men. According to the study, there are 232 counties in the U.S. where men ages 20 to 49 are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, including Anderson County, South Carolina, where Boseman grew up.
Since the 1990’s, the rate of colorectal cancer has declined for people age 50 and older but has more than doubled among younger American adults. A recent study predicted that colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in people ages 20 to 49 by the year 2030, says STAT.
Experts are baffled.
“We don’t know where this is coming from,” said Dr. Charles Rogers, assistant professor in the Public Health Division of the University of Utah School of Medicine whose specialty is addressing the racial inequalities in healthcare and who was the lead author in the hot spots study.
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(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
My youngest son, now 50, was diagnosed with cancerous polyps in 2019, had surgery (two resections), and went through 6 months of chemo. He's been cancer-free since. The Gastroenterologist who diagnosed the cancer told him he wished my son had come to him 10 years earlier, because the polyps were so big. He'd never seen them that big. My son was 48 in 2019 when diagnosed. Ten years earlier, he would have been 38, and at that time, and they wouldn't have even bothered testing him. He didn't start exhibiting any symptoms (blood in stool) until the first part of 2019, when he made the appointment with the Gastroenterologist.
I'd previously been diagnosed with diverticulitis, and wasn't eating popcorn, corn, raisins, nuts, and although the doctor never told me not to eat seeds, I stopped eating them. Despite following a strict diet as directed, back in 2010, I ended up having emergency surgery as my bowel had perforated from the diverticulitis. I had to have a temporary colostomy for three months. I also have GERD, a hiatal hernia, and Barrett's Esophagus. Because of the Barrett's, I'm supposed to have a gastroscopy once a year because of it, but I don't. On Thursday I'm having a gastroscopy and colonoscopy. My doctor will do them at the same time, despite only being paid for one procedure. When I had my last colonoscopy, he told me I didn't need one for five years, but when I had my last gastroscopy two years ago, and told him about my youngest son's cancer surgery, he told me he wanted me to have a colonoscopy every two years. It's been four years, and I'm hoping that he'll tell me I won't have to have them anymore, and just continue with the gastroscopy as needed.
I've lost 16 lbs. over the past two years...not because I was trying, but I did cut back on my daily food intake. I only eat twice a day. I've had a heart murmur my whole life. I'm 73. I have a sonogram on my carotid, and an Echo once a year in March, and after my last set of tests, the Cardiologist said that they could find no sign of a heart murmur.
And don’t keep gerbils. Seems to be a connection between owning gerbils and colon cancer.
My prayers are with you.
Great work! Hearing success stories like that will hopefully encourage others!
Ummm...”My wife had” then “He said”
I don’t want to ask.
“Colorectal”
Sounds racist?
You have infinitely more self-discipline than me. I’ve never been able to change one food item in one meal. Or exercise more than one day in a row. And no colonoscopies or other invasive procedures. Waist 33 or 34. But my mom lived until 102 without doing anything special and only expired then because of a fall so I hope to be around for a while longer than my current 66.
A mystery, you say.
Maybe exits aren’t supposed to be used for entrances.
post 22. “He” should have been the “Doctor” said.
No, I’m as red-blooded as they come . . . a former accomplished skirt-chaser with papers. . . . LOL!! Had to give that up when I got married last year . . . to a real live WOMAN!!!!!!!
Elixir Of Life.
““We don’t know where this is coming from,” said Dr. Charles Rogers, assistant professor in the Public Health Division of the University of Utah School of Medicine whose specialty is addressing the racial inequalities in healthcare”
In other words a fake scientist who looks for evidence for politically based pre-determined conclusions.
It’s no wonder he knows nothing.
I finally broker down at age 67 3 years ago and had a colonoscopy. Doc said it’s clear with no polyps and to have another in 10 years.
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I’m 78 and had definitive surgery for colon cancer at the end of April, 2015, a cancer that was discovered by a blood test for hemoglobin. I’d had a colonoscopy three years earlier and wasn’t scheduled for another for two more years. Given my direct, personal experience, I’d suggest you have the next one no more than five years after the one you just had.
Good news is I just had one, a bit more than six years after the surgery, and it was totally clean, meaning I can be declared “cured.”
I never went to medical school, but I think the colon is somewhere in yer tummy, Doc. You could start looking there.
On cold mornings, especially with a splash of Bailey’s.
More evidence of white privilege? Time for more billion dollar moonshot projects. (Pun not intended.)
Be careful of the “cured” part. My mother was told that (at 7 years for breast cancer) and had a recurrence at 15 years. It didnt kill her although she has since passed.
My husband has had 3 different cancers.
Best of luck to you but dont dismiss any symptoms thinking you are cured totally.
I figured it was because some of the younger folks don’t know how to wipe their own asses these days.
I’m 78 and I’m required to have a colonoscopy every three years. I always have polyps. Last year they found 12 but they were benign but the type that can become cancerous. I believe it’s genetic. I’ll just keep having them (colonoscopies) done till I’m told I don’t have to any longer.
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