Celebrated actor Chadwick Boseman, the star of "42", "Thurgood Marshall", "Get On Up" the James Brown Story, and of course "Black Panther" lost his battle to colon cancer earlier this year, which took everyone by surprise.
He was only 43 years old and becoming a bigger star by the minute. But as it turns out he wasn’t the only one in the family that suffered from cancer.
His brother, Kevin Boseman, recently revealed he’s in remission following his own battle with cancer.
This month, in a series of posts on his Instagram story, Kevin announced he’s officially been cancer-free for two years.
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“I wanted to share because while it’s been a year of profound loss and tragedy for so many of us.
This is good news. Something to smile about. Something to shout about,” he said.
Remission means that the signs and symptoms of your cancer are reduced. Remission can be partial or complete.
Some cancer cells can remain unnoticed in the body for years after treatment.
If a cancer returns after it has been in remission, it's called a “recurrence.” It's normal to be concerned that this will happen to you.
Every situation is different, and there's no way to predict what will happen with Kevin, but we celebrate this monumental occasion with him.
“I hope you’re smiling and shouting with me,” he added. “Cancer is something most of us have no control over.
We can only control our responses to it which includes being proactive about our healthcare both physically and mentally.”
According to Kevin, he was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and underwent four rounds of chemotherapy.
Much like Chadwick, he trusted a select few with that information, but later learned that some of “the people you trust with your story are ill-equipped to help you carry it.”
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the United States and the second most common cause of cancer-related death.
African Americans bear a disproportionate burden, with an incidence of CRC that is 20% higher than in whites and an even larger difference in mortality.
In particular, African Americans are more often diagnosed with CRC at an earlier age and with more advanced disease; and African Americans have a greater proportion of CRCs in the proximal colon.
Although some of these differences can be explained by access to care, screening, and other socioeconomic factors, a significant portion of the disparity remains unclear.
Kevin encouraged people to get themselves checked if “something feels off.” “Tomorrow is not promised and early detection saves lives,” he said. “Health is wealth. True wealth.”
And he is so right. Early screening early is important for all Black men.
As a result of the current numbers hitting Black men, experts suggest that African-Americans get screened beginning 5 to 10 years younger at age 45 or 40.
If you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, colorectal polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease, talk with your health care professional.
Chadwick learned he had stage III colon cancer back in 2016.
But unlike Kevin, his treatment regime was not enough to keep him around.
His cancer gradually progressed to stage IV, which led to Chadwick's thinner look in his face and body before his untimely death.
After months of keeping mum, Kevin broke his silence during a New York Times interview and reminisced on the early days before his brother made his way to Hollywood.
“A lot of people think making it means becoming an A-list movie star,” Kevin told The New York Times early this month. “I didn’t force that.
I just knew that if Chad wanted to work in the arts, he would find a way and take care of himself.”
His last film appearance is in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom debuting on Netflix Dec. 18.
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is set during an intense recording session 1920’s Chicago as Ma Rainey battles her manager and producer and an ambitious trumpeter, played by Boseman, over control of her music.
The film also stars Viola Davis in the title role and is based on the August Wilson play.
the early buzz surrounding the film says that Boseman gives a stellar performance as he is known for leaving it all on the table in most of his performances.
Some even say this final performance could be an Oscar contender for either the lead or supporting actor category.
