People around the world are mourning the death of Chadwick Boseman, who had ended his battle to cancer at age 43. He had been privately battling his illness for the past four years and had reached stage four of colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer.
In 2016, Chadwick was diagnosed with stage three of colon cancer, which had progressed to its final stage within four years. Not a lot of fans knew that in between his films before Black Panther, he had undergone several surgeries and also had chemotherapy.
The beloved actor died in his home where he was with his wife and family. A lot of people have been paying their respects on social media as his former co-stars describe Chadwick's death as 'an immeasurable loss.'
Colon Cancer
Colon cancer can be diagnosed through a colonoscopy even before a person shows symptoms. The exam included a small tube with a video camera that allows doctors to detect abnormalities in the rectum and large intestine or the colon.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Cancer Society report nearly 50,000 deaths from colon cancer per year. Although colon cancer is more commonly found in men, women can also develop cancer.
Those with a family history of the cancer are at higher risk of developing the same condition, especially those with multiple relatives who have been diagnosed with colon cancer. The risk of the condition also increases as a person gets older.
Colorectal cancer has a wide range of symptoms such as hypoxia (shortness of breath), fatigue, extreme weight loss. The person may also experience several gastrointestinal issues such as blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and alterations in bowel movement and habits.
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Importance of Testing
Other conditions that mimic these symptoms include irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer, and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms will vary depending on tumor size, location, and the stage of cancer.
Cancer on the right side of the colon is normally the result of anemia or an iron deficiency. Anemia is caused by the lack of red blood cells that are necessary to carry adequate amounts of oxygen to tissues from the lungs, which iron transports.
On the left colon, cancer is typically caused when there is something partially or completely blocking the bowels. This obstruction can result in constipation, bloating, and abdominal pains.
However, it can take a while until these symptoms show and typically appear during the late stages of cancer. During the early stages of colon cancer, most people would feel normal and healthy, which is why screening for colon cancer is very important especially for those with genetic risks.
There are several ways to lower the risk of colon cancer such as a healthy diet that consists of large portions of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while avoiding too many fats and meat consumption. Refraining from heavy alcohol intake and smoking cigarettes and tobacco would also help lower the risk of developing cancer.
Check out more news and information on Cancer on Science Times.
