also have the highest incidence of colorectal cancer. Nearly 20,000 new cases of colorectal cancer were expected in the United States among African Americans in 2019, with incidence rates 24 percent higher in black men and 19 percent higher in black women compared to other races, according to the American Cancer Society.
Black colorectal cancer patients are also 15 to 20 percent more likely to die from the disease than patients of any other race.
Occurring in the colon, rectum or both, colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer in all adults in the United States, with the American Cancer Society predicting about 148,000 new cases in 2020.
The black community’s heightened risk appears to be due to several contributing factors, according to Dr. Cannon. “Some biological factors may be at play,” he says, “but there are also socioeconomic factors that can make it more difficult for people to gain access to screening.”
Symptoms may include a change in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation, rectal bleeding with bright red blood, blood in the stool making it look dark, cramps or abdominal pain, and feeling like the bowel isn’t emptying completely with a bowel movement.
Natalie’s acting credits go well beyond the major films she’s known for. She also played a prominent character on the TV shows “For Your Love,” “Built to Last,” and she played Janie Egins for three seasons on the television show “Eve.” Other big-screen credits include “Set It Off” with Queen Latifah, “Divas,” “Gas” and quite notably, the made-for-TV movie “Cinderella,” featuring Brandy.
Friend and fellow actress Holly Robinson Peete also shared her reaction to the news, writing, “Just absolutely decimated by this news… Actress Natalie Desselle, a bright shining star passed away this morning.
I got to know her when my mom was managing her. She will be so missed…sending out prayers to her children and husband.” She added, “💔🙏🏽😢 Rest In Peace, Sweet Girl