Chadwick Boseman’s death underscores higher risk of colorectal cancer in African Americans and an increase in younger adults

The tragic death of Chadwick Boseman at age 43 following a four-year battle against colorectal cancer underscores two important public health concerns.

First, the incidence of colorectal cancer has risen dramatically among adults under age 50 in the U.S. and in many countries around the world. Second, African Americans have a much greater likelihood of being diagnosed and dying from the disease at any age. Both issues are important to the public health community and efforts are ongoing to address them.

See “Chadwick Boseman’s death underscores colorectal cancer increase in younger adults and health gaps for African Americans” by Franklin G. Berger on The Conversation website (September 2, 2020)