Rates of colorectal cancer are rising, especially for people under 50. But it's hard to raise awareness for a cancer that a lot of us find hard to talk about. In a recent essay for The Cut, writer Laurie Abraham described her experience of colon cancer, which included a lot of embarrassment. Talking about your bowel movements is...not fun. Can you relate?
Today, Brittany is joined by Laurie and Dr. Kimmie Ng, Co-Director of the Colon and Rectal Cancer Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, to get into the cultural shame around how we talk about colon cancer - and how that extends to a lack of funding and research.
(0:00) Why colorectal cancer rates are rising in young people
(3:18) The environmental causes that lead to colon cancer
(7:08) How cultural shame about our bodies stops diagnoses
(10:30) What can listeners do to raise awareness?
(15:58) Racial disparities and ageism against young people
(20:48) Some exciting news!
Follow Brittany Luse on Instagram: @bmluse
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