HEALTH COVID-19 UPDATE
Colon Cancer Can be Managed: Expert By James Wright WI Staff Writer @JamesDCWrighter
The death of famed actor Chadwick Boseman from colorectal cancer has brought attention to the disease that hits Blacks at a higher rate than other racial groups. It has no cure but can be successfully treated and managed, an expert said. Colorectal cancer or colon cancer occurs when the colon or rectum, a part of the large intestine, becomes malignant, according to studies from the American Cancer Society
(ACS). The cancer increases when polyps develop on the colon and they aren’t treated in a timely fashion, the ACS says. Signs and symptoms include blood in the stool, a change in bowel movements, weight loss and feelings of constant tiredness. ACS studies reveal risk factors include diet, obesity, smoking and lack of physical activity. Dietary factors increasing the risk of getting the disease include the consumption of red meat, processed meat and alcohol. Treatment for the disease include
a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The ACS said a colonoscopy, an examination looking into abnormalities and changes in the colon through the anus, remains the most common method of detecting the disease. Globally, according to the cancer society, colon cancer ranks as the third most common type of cancer making up 10 percent of all cases. In the wake of Boseman’s death, the cancer society issued a statement noting, “what most don’t know is that Chadwick Boseman sat at the intersection of where colorectal cancer rates are among the highest and rising the fastest.” “He was a young man,” the statement said. “And he was a Black man. African Americans are 20 percent more likely to get colorectal cancer and 40 percent more likely to die from it than any other group. Black men have the highest incidence rate.” The statement noted rates of colorectal cancer in younger age groups are rising. In 2020, the statement said 12 percent of colon cancer will be diagnosed in people under 50—about 18,000 cases.
5 Actor Chadwick Boseman succumbed to colon cancer in August. (WI File Photo)
Dr. Elmer Huerta, former president of the American Cancer Society and director of the Can“It is my guess that he, like many others, aren’t getting their colon examined,” he said. “You have to find the can-
Prince George’s County Will Remain at Phase Two By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks Sept. 3 announced the county will not move
to a more open state of business with the rest of Maryland. With Prince George’s County continuing to lead the state of Maryland with more than 27,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, crowds at movie theaters and other
5 Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, right, provides a COVID-19 update during a press conference July 9 at the county’s Office of Emergency Management in Landover. (FILE: Rob Roberts/The Washington Informer)
22 - SEPTEMBER 10 - 16, 2020
indoor entertainment and commerce venues will remain under Stage Two restrictions. Although the overall rate of COVID 19 test results for the county remain below the 5% positive threshold for moving to phase three, about 13 of the jurisdiction’s zip codes are above it. The 20783 zip code of Hyattsville has recorded the highest number of confirmed cases in Maryland with nearly 2,900. “We are not there yet,” Alsobrooks said about reopening other businesses. “We remain concerned about rolling back restrictions before we see progress.” Under the current phase two designation, Prince George’s residents can still shop at grocery stores and deposit and retrieve funds at banks and gather in limited numbers to attend religious services. County and health officials will reassess COVID-19 data in the next few weeks to determine whether to reopen fully. Montgomery County, which
has the second highest coronavirus confirmed cases in the state, will also continue to limit indoor and outdoor gatherings. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said during a press briefing Sept. 2 officials there will constantly review health data and make possible modifications in terms of reopening some entertainment venues. He declined to set a specific timeline “because that’s not the way to make healthbased decisions. “We’re making progress, but we’re not where we need to be,” he said. “When we are where we need to be, we’ll have a great celebration of being able to reopen things in a more normal way.” Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced last week the state will move into its third and final recovery stage that relaxes restrictions on certain activities that began Friday, Sept. 4. Movie theater and indoor ven-
PHASE TWO Page 24
cerous polyps that develop and if you find them early, treatment can take place and the cancer will not spread. I recommend everyone get a colon exam annually.” Huerta also suggested there are cultural factors that explain why colon cancer incidence is so high among some groups. “At one time, it was thought to be unpolite to talk about things such as the colon, feces and polyps in public,” he said. “What needs to happen is a good public relations campaign should be waged to inform people about colon cancer and to make it clear that this is one of the preventable cancers. There are no early detection or prevention programs that are widespread. “One thing that is clear, young people are getting it at an increasing rate. There was a time when doctors would recommend you test for the disease at 50 but now that has been moved up to 45 and Mr. Boseman, who was 43, serves as an example as to why people in that age range need to be tested.” In addition to testing, Huerta said lifestyle plays a role in avoiding colon cancer. “Living a healthy lifestyle can be a strong factor in preventing colon cancer,” he said. “People should eat more fruit, vegetables and whole grains and stay away from processed food. Obesity is a trigger for colon cancer also therefore exercise should be a part of people’s regimen.” WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
