VIDEO: ABGH partners with acclaimed saxophonist to break stigma of CRC in Black community
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In a Healio video exclusive, Ugo Iroku, MD, previewed the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists’ upcoming event on early-onset colorectal cancer and the disparities in screening and care that Black patients face.
“In 2023, a projected 100,000 Americans will get colon cancer and just under 50,000 Americans will get rectal cancer,” Iroku, a gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and Summit Health, said. “Why is it important in the Black community? Black people are 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and, unfortunately, 40% more likely to die from colorectal cancer.”
He continued: “We have seen tragic anecdotes played out over the past couple of years of young African American men and women who have been stricken by this disease.”
During ABGH’s event, “Colorectal Cancer in Young Black Americans,” attendees will hear real-life anecdotes from patient advocate James Casey from the Trey Anastasio Band and key takeaways on diagnosis, screening and care from physician expert Valerie Antoine-Gustave, MD.
“One unfortunate incident we are finding is that, a lot of time, people in the Black community are not talking about this illness. We are not talking about the colon, rectum and definitely not polyps,” Iroku added. “This is one of those events where we are trying to break that stigma and start the community talking about polyps and what is important in terms of screening and the different methods of screening.”
ABGH’s event will take place virtually on March 16th and registration is currently open.
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