A doctor has warned people about one colon cancer sign they should never ignore after Chadwick Boseman's untimely death.
The Black Panther star's death at just 43 from colon cancer shocked the world in 2020, not only because of his age but because few knew he had been privately battling the disease for four years.
Now, Dr. Jen Caudle, who is a family physician, has released a video urging the public to take even the smallest warning signs of colon cancer seriously.
Signs of Colon Cancer
The very first sign Caudle pointed out was a “change in bowel habits.”
“That’s when you have a certain type of bowel movement that [happens] every day, and now all of a sudden you’re constipated… or have diarrhea,” she explained. What matters, she said, is when something feels “not typical for you” or lasts more than a few days.
She also warned that the shape and size of stool can be a major indicator.
“Size and shapes [do] matter when we talk about stools. If your stools become more narrow, or skinny, or a different shape… that’s something to take note of as well, and you’ve got to talk to a doctor if that occurs.”
Other potential symptoms include:
- Blood in the stool
- Cramping and abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Unintentional weight loss
- Anemia
- The constant feeling that you still need to go, even after a bowel movement
Her advice was simple but firm: “Know your body” and see a doctor when something doesn’t feel right.
Boseman’s Widow Issues Emotional Plea: ‘Awareness Saves Lives’
At the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, the late Marvel actor's widow, Taylor Simone Ledward-Boseman, delivered a powerful message urging young adults not to dismiss the risks.
“Colon cancer is taking young lives across the country,” she said.
“Many don’t realize how vulnerable they are. But I’ve seen firsthand how treatable this cancer can be when it’s caught early.”
She encouraged people to take early symptoms, such as blood in stool or bowel changes, seriously and to get screened.
Screenings in the U.S. are now recommended starting at age 45.
“My advocacy comes from personal loss and from frustration at the lack of awareness, especially in the Black community,” she added.
“If we know the risks, we have a responsibility to speak out. Awareness saves lives.”
According to the Daily Mail, colon cancer diagnoses in people under 50 have surged by 140 percent since the late 1990s, with cases already appearing in patients in their 20s.
Experts predict it will become the leading cause of cancer death among young adults by 2030.
Black Americans face 20 percent higher rates of the disease and are 40 percent more likely to die from it.
The tragedy, doctors say, is that colon cancer is highly treatable when caught early, with survival rates above 90 percent in early stages. But once it spreads, survival drops to just 14 percent.
Dr. Kimmie Ng of Dana-Farber summed it up: “The rise in early-onset colorectal cancer is alarming. We need more awareness, earlier detection, and better understanding of the causes behind this trend.”