Black Doctors Explain Why It Feels Cancer Is Everywhere These Days

There was a time when people barely said the word “cancer” at all, referring to it instead as “the C-word,” as if not naming it might keep it at bay. Now it feels unavoidable — showing up in families, celebs including Dwayne Wade and Shannon Sharpe, and even within the British royal family — proving that your income or status has no bearing on who this disease touches. After so many headlines, we began to wonder: is cancer actually becoming more common, or are we simply talking about it more than ever?

Video will return here when scrolled back into view

Morris Chestnut Tells Us What Song Always Gets Him to the Dance Floor and What You Better Not Bring to a Party at His House

view video

Morris Chestnut Tells Us What Song Always Gets Him to the Dance Floor and What You Better Not Bring to a Party at His House

The Root spoke with experts from the New Jersey Black Women Physician Association, including Dr. NeNe Tchabo, a gynecologic oncologist at Atlantic Health System, who agrees that we aren’t just imagining this — there’s something to the increasing visibility of cancer in recent years. Meanwhile, board-certified podiatrist and breast cancer survivor Dr. Kordai DeCoteau believes modern lifestyle factors could be a major contributor to what we think we are seeing.

Genetics Vs. Lifestyle — Experts Weigh In

“I think people are talking about it more, which is good,” Dr. Tchabo said, and she isn’t wrong. With so many organizations raising awareness, the discussion is everywhere. In addition to the popularity of the topic, she stressed that family history plays an important role. “The majority of cancers are actually sporadic, meaning we don’t know exactly what causes the cancers, unfortunately. But there are genetic reasons why women may develop ovarian and breast cancer, certain genes within your family history can contribute.

“I do believe cancer instances are on the rise, COVID didn’t help. We had such a backlog in screening and we did find cancers later when patients had returned to their screening. Our goal as oncologists is to eliminate cancer, but we have to be smart and find it earlier so there’s a better chance for health,” the expert added. 

Meanwhile, board certified podiatrist Dr. Kordai DeCoteau — founder and CEO of Sisters on the Vineyard, a health and wellness advocacy group — spoke on the matter from the perspective of a cancer survivor. According to her, our modern lifestyle isn’t helping at all. 

“I was tested for genes out of the wazoo, and was negative,” Dr. Kordai said of her stage 2 cancer diagnosis. “I did not have a child before 35, I was overweight, I was stressed out — as most women are who are working and taking care of the households. In addition to that, I was exposed to x-rays,” she added. 

“When you put everything together… diet, lack of sleep, stress, work — what kind of work could you be doing that’s exposing you to this risk?” Dr. Kordai questioned. “Once you understand breast cancer more, hopefully you can navigate it better,” she said, adding that folks should “get tested earlier.”

What is Cancer?

To start, cancer is not a single disease but a broad category of illnesses marked by abnormal cells growing uncontrollably — and that distinction helps explain why its reach can feel both sudden and everywhere at once. While the body is full of trillions of cells, it’s the abnormal cells that grow and multiply when they shouldn’t, per National Cancer Institute. These cells may form tumors — or lumps of tissue — which can be cancerous or non-cancerous (benign).

Cancer is caused by changes to those genes that control the way our cells function. Genetic changes can happen due to an error, damage to DNA — via chemicals, smoking, or UV rays, or can be inherited from a parent. Keep in mind, the body can eliminate cells with damaged DNA before they become cancerous, but this depends on the body’s ability to ward off critical errors. 

Reports Say Cancer Is on the Rise

The American Cancer Society released a study that cancer diagnosis in young women, for example, have increased significantly over the past decade. Between 2012 and 2021, records show a 1.4% increase in women under 50, compared to 0.7% annually amongst women 50 and up. Plus, Black women reportedly face higher rates of breast cancer before 40, and are most likely to die from the disease. 

Men aren’t exempt from these increases either. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer rates have gone from a decline of 6.4% per year from 2007 to 2014 to an increase of 3% annually from 2014 through 2021. If that wasn’t enough, mortality declines have slowed up from 3-4% annually from the 1990s and 2000s, to 0.6% per year over the past decade, per the outlet.

So, is this pesky disease really increasing rapidly? Considering the data, it’s not all in our minds. Cancer feels like it’s everywhere these days… simply because it is. From advocacy groups speaking more openly about the disease to stress, heavy workloads, poor diet, delayed screenings, and genetic factors, multiple forces are combining to make cancer feel super common.