Public Health students hold virtual seminar to raise awareness about colon cancer

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Each year, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer, and more than 50,000 die from it. That’s bad news, but for African-Americans, it’s even worse.

The tragic death of Chadwick Boseman at age 43 following a four-year battle with 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.

On Wednesday, a group of FAMU students in the Institute of Public Health held a virtual seminar to raise awareness of the disease with John Luque, Ph.D., MPH, a professor in the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Prashanth Vennataganti, MD, a Board Certified Gastroenterologist, at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Luque’s current research at FAMU involves colorectal cancer.  

Both Luque and Vennataganti are conducting research to help underserved communities in receive accurate and timely colorectal cancer screenings.  

Colorectal cancer disproportionately affects the Black community due to differences in risk factors and healthcare access related to socioeconomic status. In fact, African Americans are disproportionately burdened by cancer in general. 

Both encouraged individuals over 40 to get regular screenings.  These screenings can take the traditional mode of a colonoscopy or with an at-home test collection kit, which many physicians suggests is the preferred screening option.   

Screening for colorectal cancer not only detects the disease but is also highly effective in preventing it. Early screening can help to catch it in its early-stage before it progress to the life-threatening stages.