While watching an episode of Dr. Oz this week my sister and I debated the percentages of African American women dying of colon cancer(CRC.) Based on her education [her associate degree in medical administration] and experience she didn’t think black women had a heavy concern about this cancer.  While I, a full-time patient with ten years experience in and out of hospitals and labs, meeting all types of other female patients, I begged to differ.

Moreover, our grandmother survived colorectal cancer. Yet, she was adamant that we stay on top of our colons until her death. She passed four years ago of malnutrition.

Yesterday we were both saddened to hear the news of Gospel singer Marvin Sapp, mourning the death of his wife and manager, Dr. MaLinda Sapp. She passed of colorectal cancer.

CRC isn’t a glamorous cancer, as if there is such a thing. It’s hard on both the patient and her family. My grandmom lived with colostomy bag.  

And there are also some competing messages about this cancer’s probability among women that needs to be changed, ergo our old debate. Below are some stats about this disease that should stick with you:

• Despite having the greatest risk of developing and dying from colorectal cancer (CRC) of any gender, race or ethnicity, an astounding 96 percent of African American women do not consider themselves to be at high risk for the disease. Source: African American Women Bearing Unequal Burden of Colorectal Cancer
• African-American Women have a mortality rate 40% higher than White CRC patients
• Beginning at age 45 African American women should get these test to check for  polyps and cancer
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*, or 
  • Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
  • Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years*, or
  • CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years*

To learn more about this Cancer and to support Cancer Research & Initiatives watch Stand Up for Cancer tonight 8PM on all major networks.

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) one-hour, commercial-free telecast will air on Friday, September 10, 2010 at 8PM EST & PST / 7PM CT on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Discovery Health, E!, G4, HBO, HBO Latino, MLB Network, Showtime, The Style Network and TV One and over 30 online streaming partners like AOL, Yahoo! and YouTube.

The SU2C broadcast is dedicated to the 12 million U.S. cancer survivors illustrating how groundbreaking research can change the tide in the fight against the disease. Updates will be provided on the work of the five Stand Up To Cancer Dream Teams, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, will also report on other new medical developments.

Stand Up To Cancer raises funds to hasten the pace of groundbreaking translational research that can get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives. Donations can be made via telephone during the show, anytime online at www.su2c.org or Text STAND to 40202 to give $10 now. 100% of the funds received from the public go to research.

Stand Up To Cancer has raised more than $100 million for cancer research since 2008. Thank you for your support and please join us on September 10th, 2010 with a spectacular line-up of talent – many who will be on hand in the celebrity phone bank.

You can send condolences to the Sapp Family on Their Official Facebook Fan Page here.