INDIANAPOLIS — The loss of actor Chadwick Boseman comes as a shock, but is getting everyone's attention and raising awareness of colon cancer.
Colon cancer is showing up more often in younger people and it doesn't necessarily have to run in your family for you to get it, according to experts.
"The risk has been going up in younger people, even down to the age of 20," said Dr. Doug Rex, director of endoscopy at IU Health University Hospital.
Rex says Boseman's story is tragic.
"We've had other like this Darry Strawberry, the famous baseball player who developed colon cancer in his 30s, he survived," Rex said. "Or Katie Couric's husband. He developed colon cancer in his 40s ."
Andrea Bauer knows what it's like to battle the sickness. She says she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer when she was 35-years-old.
"You are the only one who knows your body nobody else knows your body," Bauer said. "Doctors can tell you nothing is wrong, they can tell you that you are too young, they can tell you that you don't have a family history, but the science community knows there's a rise in colorectal cancer in those under 50."
Racecar driver John Andretti passed away this year after a three year battle with colon cancer. He encouraged people to "Check it for Andretti."
"All races should begin screening at 45," Rex said. "If you are a younger person and you have symptoms, rectal bleeding is the most important one, it is important to get a check-up."
For more information on getting screened, click here.
