Chadwick Boseman’s colon cancer journey is once again in focus as his widow, Simone Ledward Boseman, shares new details about how his symptoms appeared suddenly just weeks before his diagnosis.
Nearly six years after Boseman’s death in August 2020 at age 43, Simone opened up in an interview with Craig Melvin on TODAY, offering a closer look at the early days of his illness. She revealed that the onset of symptoms came as a surprise to both of them, unfolding in a short period of time.
“I didn’t know that he was experiencing anything until he had already been to the doctor twice,” she said, explaining that the changes in his health seemed to happen quickly. According to her, it was only a matter of weeks from when he first began feeling unwell to when the situation became more serious.
Simone described colon cancer as difficult to detect, especially in younger individuals. She noted that because of his age, routine screening, such as a colonoscopy, was not something he had considered at the time.
Boseman was diagnosed in 2016 with Stage 3 colon cancer. Even now, Simone said she is unsure whether the illness was linked to his family history, adding that not having complete medical background information is something many people experience.
Following the diagnosis, she recalled that they approached the situation with optimism. She said they believed he would recover after treatment, expecting that surgery followed by chemotherapy would address the illness. At the time, she said there was little discussion about the possibility of a different outcome.
Boseman continued working throughout his diagnosis, keeping his condition private until his passing. His death shocked fans around the world, many of whom were unaware that he had been battling cancer for years.
Medical guidance from the Mayo Clinic notes that colon cancer symptoms can include changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, persistent abdominal discomfort, and unexplained weight loss, among other signs.
