Why this day is sad!
Today is a moment of sadness and reflection.
This was one of the most significant movies of my generation,
I’ve waited a lifetime for a full on black superhero and Hollywood blockbusters with predominantly black cast, without racial stereotypes....to hear that Chadwick Boseman has passed really is a sad moment in time. Not only because he was part of something so so special & let me tell you it was special beyond words, not only because black men are dying daily, not only because he was an exceptional role model but also because he passed of Bowel Cancer.
Having recently had a Pre-Cancerous tumour removed from my bowel myself I was told repeatedly;
I was too young for Bowel Cancer, (even with a family history)
It’s probably my Endometriosis (which also took over 20 years to be diagnosed),
2 A&E visits during Covid lockdown
Also watching someone I know and worked with in Leeds who was a nurse die of the disease in early 40's.
If I’d left it 3 more years who knows what would happen, now thankfully I am going to be screened every few years.
I know that many people are sitting at home right now, with conditions they don’t want to worry anyone about. That the GP may have swept under the carpet and told them not to worry about, or come back if symptoms persist.
Thing about health is you have to be persistent with the GP they get less than 10mins to rule out signs of fatal conditions (something us Physiotherapists get more than 30-40mins and follow ups to help diagnose less serious things).
The main symptoms of bowel cancer are;
symptoms:
* a persistent change in bowel habit – pooing more often, with looser, runnier poos and sometimes tummy (abdominal) pain
* blood in the poo without other symptoms of piles (haemorrhoids) – this makes it unlikely the cause is haemorrhoids
* abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating – sometimes resulting in a reduction in the amount of food eaten and weight loss
* Constipation, where you pass harder stools less often, is rarely caused by serious bowel conditions.
Many of these may not show up, infact 90% have just one symptom but you can, show up to your doctor if you notice anything unusual and changes in bowel habit & any lumps and bumps that are unusual (having had two friends with breast cancer recently I can not express checking for lumps and bumps and taking action enough).
The doctors at the moment are hard to get hold of, call and call again. You have to wait for an appointment demand one sooner. They really want you to be ok, if your not let them know.
Also racial inequality in healthcare system exists and we have to keep talking about it, black people are ‘harder to diagnose’ doctors miss the key signs and symptoms they would recognise in others or that they have learnt in their text book and on placements. Black people are often a lot sicker before they get to hospital.
Did you even know more black women die in during complications in pregnancy and childbirth than any other race in UK and USA?
The part that within our control is seeking help early and being persistent if it is a problem you know is not right. This is important no matter what race you are. 43 is no age to die of anything! Your health is the one thing you can have.
Rest in Peace T’Chilla you changed our lives Wakanda forever.