For nearly eight months, Jenna Scott had a smooth pregnancy. However, she began experiencing symptoms such as bleeding, dizziness, and abdominal pain. At 29 years old, Scott feared that something may be wrong with her baby, but her obstetrician reassured her after a medical consultation that everything was fine. It was suggested that her baby might be sitting on her organs or that she may be experiencing pregnancy-induced hemorrhoids, which are common.
The abdominal issues were explained away as typical pregnancy discomforts. As a first-time pregnant woman, Scott did not know what was normal and what was not. Even after the birth of her son, Cameron, the rectal bleeding persisted, and Scott was exhausted. She was told that intense fatigue was normal for a new mother and that she may still have hemorrhoids. When nothing changed a year after giving birth, Scott realized she needed to see a primary care physician. There, she was referred to a GI specialist who ordered a colonoscopy to rule out more significant issues. Instead, the test confirmed something no one expected: at 31 years old, Scott had stage 4 colorectal cancer.
Scott, a young woman with a healthy lifestyle and no family history of colon cancer, felt that medical providers were less likely to offer screenings, even though rectal bleeding and abdominal pain are typical symptoms of colon cancer. She is not entirely sure if racial biases played a significant role, but she was a black woman with a team of white doctors. Scott shared that the medical providers at her obstetrician-gynecologist clinic offered many apologies after learning of her diagnosis.
Black individuals have lower rates of colon cancer screenings and examinations, which raises doubts about whether medical provider biases contribute to the worse outcomes for many people of color. Native Americans and Alaskan Natives have the highest rates of colorectal cancer, followed by Black men and women. Black patients have the highest mortality rates for this disorder.
Dr. Renee Williams, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Health, has studied possible reasons why black patients are less likely to be referred for colon cancer screenings. She believes that while provider bias plays a role, social determinants of health and other external factors play a more significant role in disparities in screenings.
Screenings are crucial because polyps can be removed before they become cancerous, and the survival rates are high if colorectal cancer is treated early. Routine screenings have significantly reduced the mortality rate of colon cancer over the years. Initiatives such as community-based outreach, offering information in churches and health fairs, and sending text messages to patients when they turn 45 to encourage colon cancer screenings have proven effective in reducing racial disparities in screenings and mortality rates for colon cancer.
Scott’s journey has been marked by surgeries, chemotherapy, and ER visits over the past seven years. The cancer spread to her liver and lungs, and she developed melanoma in her foot, requiring surgical removal. Despite moments of relief with a cancer-free period in 2021-2022, Scott’s cancer returned, necessitating aggressive treatment. She encourages others to advocate for themselves and seek second opinions, emphasizing the importance of early screenings and proactive healthcare.
