Simone Ledward-Boseman visits Dana-Farber during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Singer, artist, and colorectal cancer caregiver Simone Ledward-Boseman visited Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as part of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month initiatives, sharing her journey to advocacy after the death of her husband, Chadwick Boseman. Chadwick Boseman was well known for his starring role in the movie, "Black Panther." He passed away in 2020 from colorectal cancer at the age of 43.

Ledward-Boseman was the keynote speaker at the 5th Annual Patient and Family Forum at the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center. Young-onset colorectal cancer refers to the diagnosis of colorectal cancer in individuals younger than 50 years old. In the United States, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in men under the age of 50 and the second among women of the same age, according to the American Cancer Society. Those number are rising about one to two percent each year, and the reason for this rise remains unknown.

"The alarming rise in young-onset colorectal cancer underscores the urgent need for heightened awareness, early detection, and comprehensive research to understand the underlying causes and develop effective prevention and treatment strategies," said Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center and associate chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Dana-Farber.

"Colorectal cancer is killing young people across the country, and most are vastly underestimating their risk. I've seen how this disease moves, and I know now how treatable it is when it's detected early. My personal advocacy stems from this understanding, and from the disappointment I feel in the lack of awareness in my community," said Ledward-Boseman. "We who have this knowledge have an obligation to inform our fellow man. Spreading awareness will save lives."

"Facing young-onset colorectal cancer requires not only resilience but also advocacy," said Ng. "We are thankful to Simone Ledward-Boseman for bravely sharing her personal experience as a caretaker. Her continued support for awareness-raising efforts honors the incredible legacy of her late husband, Chadwick Boseman."

Colorectal cancer occurs at a higher rate in Black Americans than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S. according to the American Cancer Society. Black Americans are more than 20% more likely to get the disease and 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups.

Dana-Farber's Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center is among the first centers in the country dedicated to both treating colon and rectal cancer in patients younger than 50 as well as accelerating the pace of research into why incidence rates are rising in this young population. It provides patient-centered opportunities as well as important education events, including the Annual Patient and Family Forum, to help patients and their supporters.