The recent passing of Chadwick Boseman shocked many and sparked much conversation around early detection. Chadwick passed away at 43 years old when the recommendation for colon cancer screenings aren’t until age 50, not to mention he was diagnosed four years ago. His death is almost unfathomable.
While the cure for cancer still hasn’t been discovered, doctors have found one major way of reducing cancer-related death: early detection. But is early detection early enough for the Black Community?
Early Detection in the Black Community
African Americans in the US still have the highest death rate and the lowest survival rate of any racial or ethnic group for most cancers. Much of the difference is because of lower socioeconomic status and less access to medical care. African Americans often experience greater obstacles to cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and survival that go beyond the obvious connection to cancer such as systemic racism. Systemic racism disparities include lower-paying jobs, lack of comprehensive health insurance, proximity to food deserts, low-quality education, and unsafe neighborhoods. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Black men, and breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed in Black women. Each makes up nearly one-third of cancers diagnosed in each gender. Lung and colorectal cancers are the second and third most commonly diagnosed cancers in both Black men and women. Colonoscopy and mammograms are two major methods of early detection. Understanding when to be screened for breast cancer and colorectal cancer can be confusing. Below are some guidelines to help you understand how to navigate cancer prevention.
Colon Cancer Detection
Doctors recommend colonoscopies at certain intervals to detect colon cancers when they are still easily treatable. A colonoscopy is when the doctor uses a long, flexible scope to examine your large intestine. Most people are given a mild sedative to make them sleepy or may opt for general anesthesia for this procedure to make it more comfortable. For most people, the American College of Physicians recommends getting a colonoscopy starting at the age of 50. In 2020, about 12% of colorectal cancers – about 18,000 cases – will be diagnosed in people under the age of 50 in the US. You would then get a colonoscopy every 10 years after that if every colonoscopy was normal. If your colonoscopy is not normal but not necessarily cancer, like a benign polyp, you may get more frequent colonoscopies, about every 3-5 years. There are additional tests that you could get to avoid a colonoscopy that may still detect colon cancer. The most common alternative is a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT). Many people with colon cancer have a small amount of blood in their stool that may be invisible to the naked eye. The FOBT can screen for cancer in these people by detecting any blood in the stool. Unfortunately, this test is not as sensitive as a colonoscopy because not everyone with colon cancer has blood in their stool. There are important caveats to the age guidelines. People with inflammatory bowel disease are at higher risk for colorectal cancer. For example, many people with Ulcerative Colitis must begin getting colonoscopies about 8 years after their diagnosis. People with a family history of colorectal cancer before the age of 50 should start getting colonoscopies 10 years before their family member was diagnosed with colon cancer. Make sure to check with your doctor to understand your risk factors.
Breast Cancer
A mammogram is a test that screens for breast cancer. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends offering mammograms starting at age 40. A woman may decide to defer, but they recommend starting mammograms no later than 50. They also recommend screening mammograms every 1-2 years depending on the woman’s risk factors and personal preferences. After age 55, they recommend a mammogram every 2 years. Most people who are at average risk for breast cancer can stop screening at age 45. Women at risk for breast cancer, like those with a family member with breast cancer or members of ethnic groups more at risk, may continue after age 75 if they choose.
RIP to Chadwick Bowsman and the countless of others who have passed too soon <3
You may need to be screened before the recommended age, be sure to talk to your doctor to understand your risk factors and come up with a plan for cancer prevention and screening.
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