A trailblazer of neo-soul music and a bona fide sex symbol, D’Angelo was adored as much for his looks — his rippled physique was on display in the steamy “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” video — as his silky falsetto, ranked among the greatest voices of all time. Famous enough to have a mononym, he struggled with celebrity and vanished from public view for years at a time.
The acclaimed and influential musician, born Michael Eugene Archer, was in one such reclusive period when he died on Tuesday at the age of 51. The news stunned Black America and drew a flood of tributes from entertainment heavyweights, like Questlove, and celebrity music fans, such as former President Barack Obama.
But the headlines also revealed a tragic secret: D’Angelo had lost a private battle with pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease and perhaps the trickiest to identify. Although he fought it behind closed doors, D’Angelo’s death put a spotlight on a disease that disproportionately affects Black men and women, yet isn’t often a part of the discussions around cancers that are common in the Black community.
A Stealthy Disease
“Black Americans are more likely to get pancreatic cancer than any other racial or ethnic group,” according to an article by Allison Rosenzweig on the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network website. “They have the highest incidence rate of pancreatic cancer in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute SEER data.”
While researchers haven’t pinpointed why the disparities exist, “some studies have shown that systemic racism, the environment, access to nutritious food, and barriers to quality healthcare may play a role,” Rosenzweig wrote.
To his fans, D’Angelo’s death seemed paradoxical, given his relatively young age and his image as a performer who was trim and muscular, often performing shirtless.
Still, the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are hard to recognize, easy to misdiagnose, and often ignored until the cancer has progressed to a later, more dangerous stage.
“Early symptoms for the majority of pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers are vague and often mistaken for diseases that aren’t cancer,” says Dr. Wasif Saif, an oncologist who also leads a clinical trials team at the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit.
“This leads to a delay in diagnosis and, unfortunately, many are detected at an advanced stage,” he said.
Taken individually, the symptoms — including abdominal or back pain, unintentional weight loss, diminished appetite, bloating, and unusual bowel movements — aren’t definite signs of pancreatic cancer.
Know the Possible Signs
But Dr. Leo Moore, an internist who specializes in HIV and lifestyle medicine in Los Angeles, said they can be early warning signs “especially if they start to happen together or don’t go away.”
“Rather than ask for specific tests, I recommend that patients pay close attention to their bodies so that they can provide a detailed account of what they have been experiencing,” Moore says.
Screening for GI cancers isn’t usually recommended for the average person, but is highly recommended for those with hereditary risks, such as if a parent, sibling, or child has had the disease, says Saif. Individuals who have Hepatitis B or C should also be regularly screened for pancreatic cancer. While the cancer is easily overlooked, Moore and Saif say Black Americans can reduce their risk of developing late-stage pancreatic cancer by paying attention to the warning signs and through regular check-ups and cancer screenings.
Additional screenings are recommended for patients who have higher-than-average risk factors for the disease, like diabetes and high blood pressure. About 1 in 10 cases of pancreatic cancer are hereditary, in part because of mutations in certain genes that can be passed down.
“Genetic testing helps detect cancer by identifying inherited gene mutations that increase a person’s risk, allowing for preventive measures and early screening,” says Saif. “For those already diagnosed, genetic testing on the tumor itself can identify specific mutations that can be used to guide personalized treatment options.”
Because D’Angelo was, at times, a recluse, few outside of his inner circle know when he was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, what symptoms he might have had, or how he fought the disease. Moore says it can be challenging to connect the dots between seemingly innocuous health problems and a life-threatening disease that can quickly metastasize.
“If you notice weight loss or any of the other symptoms, take note of when you first noticed the symptoms. If you have new abdominal pain, pay attention to where it’s located and how long it has persisted. Based on your symptoms, your doctor will order blood work, possibly an abdominal ultrasound or other imaging, such as a CT or MRI, to look closely at the pancreas and nearby organs.”
“Be proactive and pay close attention to your body,” Dr. Moore adds. “Our body often gives us signs when something is wrong. Getting checked as soon as symptoms appear can make all the difference.”
What are the early symptoms of pancreatic or GI cancers?
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly, even with small meals.
- New or persistent upper belly or back pain, including a dull ache that wraps around to your back.
- Bloating and changes in digestion, especially after eating fatty foods.
- Pale, greasy, or floating bowel movements that are hard to flush — signs of pancreatic issues.
- Sudden, new-onset diabetes after never having blood sugar issues.
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes — often a sign of problems with bile ducts near the pancreas.
- Itchy skin or dark urine.
