JACKSONVILLE, Fla – Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S and by the end of this decade, it’s expected to be the number one cancer killer for adults under 50.
March is colorectal cancer awareness month, and a local woman is part of a new national awareness campaign.
Kentisha Mazeke is one of 12 people whose story will be featured in the “Fight for More” campaign on the National Mall.
Starting Sunday, their pictures will appear along with 27,000 blue flags representing the expected cases of colorectal cancer in people under 50, if something doesn’t change.
“She fought colon cancer with a vengeance until she was 45 years old, and she passed away from it on March 17th, 2005,” said Kentisha Mazeke, Fight CRC Ambassador.
Mazeke’s mother, Felita Rollins, was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer at 43 years old.
“I’m an only child. I was 22 years old when my mother passed away. We need to have more laws in place that recognize colorectal cancer as a disease that is truly taking out the lives of many young adults and elderly,” said Mazeke.
Raising awareness is Mazeke’s main goal as she’s now an ambassador for Fight Colorectal Cancer or Fight CRC.
She works with survivors, patients, and caregivers to help educate people about screening options, talk to policymakers to allocate more research funds, and teach people the signs and symptoms to look out for.
“They’re fighting for research. They’re fighting for a cure. They’re fighting for more information and for people that look like you and I,” said Mazeke.
Although this is a preventable, treatable, and beatable cancer with timely screenings.
It’s also the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and cases in younger people are on the rise.
“Black Americans are about 20% likely to get colon cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it. And that number is just steadily increasing. So, the age that people are being diagnosed is decreasing and the number of people under 45 is increasing,” said Mazeke.
Mazeke has these words of advice to help reduce these deaths.
Know your family history, ask questions, learn more about the symptoms, and advocate for your health by getting screened routinely and timely.
“Talk to your doctor, what are my risk factors. Educate yourself. Trust your gut and get your butt checked,” said Mazeke.
Mazeke also created a non-profit called Felita’s Love to provide additional resources to help with the fight against colon cancer.
The group will head to Washington, DC to talk to Congress and continue their advocacy efforts.