Gen X About Your Health

 I believe we need to have a serious discussion.

I may appear to you as a Millennial, but I'm actually a baby boomer. I'm more like your younger sister than the irritating cousin you used to babysit at family reunions while everyone else was drunk and playing Spades.

Simply put, don't look at me the way the Baby Boomers do. Take me seriously right now, because I'm approaching you from a position of love.

Chadwick Boseman died recently. According to his family, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer years ago and was receiving treatment while filming the epic roles we all know and love him for—42, the storey of Jackie Robinson; Get on Up, his portrayal of James Brown; and Black Panther, which really doesn't need an explanation at this point. His ability to play iconic characters and bring our tales to life has left an everlasting effect on our country, the world, and, most importantly, the culture.

Colorectal cancer, often known as colon cancer, is not uncommon. In the United States, it is the second greatest cause of cancer-related fatalities, after only lung cancer. Colon cancer occurs when cells in the lining of the colon and large intestine grow out of control and develop malignant tumours in the colon, causing discomfort and obstructions. However, because so few individuals are routinely checked for colon cancer and malignant cells, by the time the cancer is discovered, it has already spread to and contaminated other regions of the body; at that point, chemotherapy is the only treatment that has a chance of working.

Doctors often start testing you for colon cancer after you're well into your 50s, because that's when research suggests you're most likely to acquire malignant cells. Furthermore, developments in medical research have resulted in a drop in the number of fatalities related to all malignancies throughout time..

I realise I'm mentioning colorectal cancer a lot, but this isn't about that.

Chadwick died when he was 43 years old. Forty-three. While it's important to note that we don't know the specifics of his diagnosis or when he acquired it, there are a few things we can fairly say: 1. His family acknowledged that he had reached stage 4 after being diagnosed in 2016, prior to the start of filming for Panther; 2. Because he was diagnosed well before his 43rd birthday, he had to have been tested long before he would've entered the age range when your doctor would even bring it up.

What makes this so crucial is that it applies to nearly every circumstance for you, dear Gen X'er.

According to research, ailments that are commonly linked with nearing retirement age are being discovered far earlier than we would think. Conditions that are often associated with persons in their 50s and 60s are being discovered in younger and younger people.

That involves both me and my cohort of older Millennials, but it also includes you.

We're seeing 40-year-olds who need the types of heart and diabetes medications that are typically recommended to people in their late 50s and early 60s. Colon cancer is identified in younger and younger individuals, particularly when they're Black, and because we know that health care is not as easily available for Black people as it is for White people for a variety of reasons, our death rate is greater. Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol are all affecting younger people and necessitating more severe prescription therapy.

It's one thing to recognise an issue that can be solved with behaviour modification; it's another to reach the point where medicine is required. It's the difference between being told "it's time to quit smoking" and being told "you need chemotherapy right now."

It's important to note that this isn't about "you're growing old" jokes, or even jokes in general. It's not your age; it's a disparity in health-care delivery that isn't reaching the doctors who are most likely to treat you. It's awful for Millennials, but it's even worse for Generation X. However, given that Boomers are known for caring only about themselves, it's entirely possible that the Gen X'ers with whom we grew up watching Video Soul and TRL, who rushed to record our favourite song on cassette tape with us, and who were just as shocked as we were when Aaliyah died never received the feedback that we Millennials do.

Gen Xers must be encouraged and enabled to seek out the types of preventative treatment that will help them maintain their health. We all need to be ready to have these talks with our doctors long before they are ready to have those conversations with us. Preventing the need for prescription medicine later in life can be accomplished by proactive advice and treatment. Many of these chronic conditions—diabetes, heart disease, and so on—cause further harm in the body if left untreated for long periods of time, making early detection, treatment, and course correction critical.

The Baby Boomers aren't going to tell you, but we will. You're our elder brothers and sisters, beloved relatives, and some of our closest pals. Make an appointment with your doctor. Get all of your check-ups, including the ones that aren't pleasant.

We can even go together because we need to be there at the same time as you.