Chadwick Boseman: Honoring a Legacy Beyond his Cancer Battle

American actor and playwright, Chadwick Boseman, passed away on August 28, 2020 after a four year long battle with colon cancer. Boseman, who passed away at the age of 43, kept his cancer diagnosis private and continued to act while battling the disease. It was only until his passing that news of his cancer became public, with a statement released by his family on his official Instagram account.

Born in South Carolina, Boseman began his career in theatre before transitioning to the big screen. His first breakout role was his portrayal of baseball player Jackie Robinson in the biographical sports film, 42. In 2016, Boseman rose to global stardom when he portrayed T’Challa/Black Panther in the film Captain America: Civil War. He continued on to participate in multiple projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the titular character Black Panther in the 2018 blockbuster Black Panther.

Throughout his career, Boseman received multiple awards, including a Primetime Emmy and an Actor award. He also had several nominations, such as one for the Academy award. Boseman’s last film was the 2020 American musical drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, in which he played Levee Green, an ambitious and hot-headed trumpet player. For his final role, Boseman received the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for Best Actor and was nominated for an Oscar.

Boseman was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016. Even though he was diagnosed with cancer, Boseman chose to keep his diagnosis private and only shared it with his close friends and family. He preferred not to let his diagnosis be the focus of public attention.

His wife, Simone Ledward Boseman, shared, "Chad was not a person that would have wanted to be treated any differently because people knew that he was sick.”

Colon cancer occurs when the cells of the colon divide uncontrollably. The five-year relative survival rate for colon cancer is estimated to be approximately 63%. Early detection is key in increasing the chances of survival and recovery.

Ledward added that when her husband was first diagnosed, they were “very confident” that he “would make it through”.

"To us, it was going be a challenging moment, but something that he would come out on the other side of and be fine. And they would do a surgery, and he would do some chemo afterward, and he would be okay. And there wasn’t much talk at all of the possibility of him not being okay on the other side of that,” she recalled.

Following his diagnosis, Boseman underwent extensive treatment, having undergone “countless surgeries and chemotherapy” while he continued filming and pursuing his career in acting. His strength and resilience serve as a testament to his courage and perseverance in the face of adversity.

"The work is what was keeping him moving, so he didn’t want the work to suffer just because he was sick. He didn’t want to be handled with kid gloves because people thought he wasn’t going to be able to do his job and slide underneath falling cabinets and run across fields," Ledward shared.

Boseman was temporarily declared cancer-free in 2018 before his cancer relapsed and progressed to stage 4. He passed away two years later in 2020, “with his wife and family by his side”.

Six years after her husband’s death, Ledward shared her thoughts on grief:

"The edges get less sharp, I think, is the best way to put it. There are still edges and there are still a lot of painful moments but I think it becomes easier to find the love in those moments, as well. You become more accustomed to carrying the weight of grief. But it doesn’t go away."

Following Boseman’s death, countless fans and fellow actors came together to pay tribute to him and honour his legacy. Internet searches for colorectal cancer also surged dramatically as the announcement of Boseman’s death became the most-liked tweet in history. This influx of support helped fund research and awareness campaigns on colorectal cancer.

Boseman’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection and continues to inspire conversations and raise awareness of colorectal cancer.