As many of us prepare for the summer travel season—with some heading home to Nigeria for family events or burials—our health often takes a backseat to logistics and “Owanbe” planning. However, a silent trend is hitting the Black community hard: Colorectal cancer is rising among young adults under 50.
While we often focus on “Village People” or stress as the cause of stomach issues, medical data shows that genetics and lifestyle play a massive role. The good news? If caught early, the five-year survival rate for those under 65 is a massive 94%.
Watch for These 4 “Red Flag” Signs
Colon cancer symptoms are “shakara” experts—they like to hide in the early stages. A major 2023 study identified four symptoms that often appear two years before a formal diagnosis. If you’re experiencing these, don’t just “manage” it with ginger tea or wait until you get to Nigeria; see your NHS GP or a private specialist immediately.
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Stomach Pain (Abdominal Pain): Not just regular “running stomach,” but persistent cramping or bloating.
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Blood in your Poo (Rectal Bleeding): Never assume it’s “just piles” (haemorrhoids). Get it checked.
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Ongoing Diarrhoea: Changes in your toilet habits that won’t go away.
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Tiredness (Iron Deficiency Anemia): Feeling unusually weak or “dry” of blood.
Why Is This Happening to Us?
By 2030, researchers warn that 15% of all colon cancer cases will be in people under 50. For the Naija diaspora in the UK, several factors are at play:
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The “Western” Diet: Swapping home-cooked high-fibre swallows for UK processed foods and takeaways.
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Genetics: Our family history matters more than we think.
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The “Strong Man” Syndrome: We often ignore symptoms until they become unbearable.
The Math of Risk: Don’t Ignore the Signs
The study found that the more symptoms you have, the higher the risk:
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1 Symptom: Doubles your risk.
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2 Symptoms: Increases risk by 3.5 times.
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3+ Symptoms: Increases risk by more than 6.5 times.
Is It Cancer or Just “Jollof Rice” Troubles?
Many of these symptoms look like common UK-Naija struggles, such as:
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Food poisoning (from that Lagos airport snack).
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IBD (Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis).
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Viral “bugs” going around the UK.
Dr. Anton Bilchik warns: “There is no specific symptom that’s only for colon cancer.” This is why professional screening is vital.
UK Screening Guidelines
In the UK, the NHS generally starts bowel cancer screening at age 50 or 54 (depending on where you live in the UK), but because our community is seeing younger cases, you must be your own advocate.
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If you are 45+: Start asking your GP about your risks.
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If you have symptoms: Age does not matter. Demand a stool-based test (FIT test) or a referral.
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If you are doing private labs in Nigeria: Take those results back to your UK GP to update your medical records.
Bottom Line: Don’t let “God forbid” be your only healthcare plan. Awareness is the first step to staying “correct” and healthy for your family.
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