One in six black men will develop prostate cancer, but for some, preventive screenings are a cause for concern

News about Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s ‘secret’ hospital stay in January 2024 made waves in the political community. Experts debated the protocol stating that a senior national security official is faraway from duty without the knowledge of the president or the general public, but there was one other factor at play. Secretary Austin received a diagnosis of prostate cancer. “This news shocked me and I know it shocked many others, especially the Black community,” he said of his diagnosis. “It was a punch in the gut.”

One in six black men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime in comparison with one in eight white men. Black men are 60% more prone to have the disease than white men and a couple of.14 times more prone to die from the disease than white men. Black men also die at higher rates low-grade prostate cancer than other breeds. These rates apply to African-Americans and men of Caribbean descent. Prostate cancer in black men could have biological characteristics related to a more aggressive disease. Research suggests that on account of inherited genetic aspects, differences in cancer biology cause cancer to progress faster in black men and/or be tougher to treat. So what do Black men do to stop this diagnosis? In many cases this just isn’t enough.

Stigmata around séances

Marlon McKnight, a 44-year-old man living in Orlando, has never had a prostate screening and is looking forward to having one. McKnight’s primary care provider told him he needed to schedule an exam sooner or later, but didn’t actually refer him for an exam. When talking about finding a doctor, McKnight recalls growing up in Jamaica, where “we go to the doctor when we’re sick.” He’s taking his time, and McKnight says he’s also sensitive around his rectum and doesn’t want anyone touching him there, irrespective of what. “Just the thought of a man behind me with his fingers inside me makes me nervous,” she admits.

“Black men especially are afraid to take the exam,” he says Brian K. McNeil, MD, MBA, FACS, chief of urology on the University Hospital of Brooklyn. “There is a lot of fear there. Fear of the unknown and fear of the results of the test. McNeil says black men are afraid of getting bad results. Questions are running through their minds, resembling: What will occur if I would like surgery or radiation? Will I actually have problems urinating? Will I actually have to wear a pad or diaper for a very long time?

“Prostate cancer, and prostate health in general, is unique in that it can be linked to masculinity,” McNeil explains. He says some may associate it with feeling like a man, masculinity and sexual function. “Anything that could impact that or impede it in any way becomes a little scary,” he adds.

Professor David B. Miller, Ph.D., MSW, MPH., Case Western Reserve University, says his tests shows that it’s an intersection of possible homophobia, identity and distrust. “So these three factors come into play,” he says. “This doctor is going to stick his finger up my ass. Why is he doing this? There’s something wrong with them. Are they doing this to me for another reason?” Miller claims that every one this mythology and conspiracies are mixed up, after which suddenly he not desires to get tested or see a doctor.

The influence of representation

Jerome Fenton, 40, of Newark, New Jersey, has no qualms about prostate screening. At the age of 30, he developed a colon infection and his doctor really useful a prostate examination at the identical time. He plans to conduct follow-up tests soon. When asked why he feels so good about this process, Fenton replies, “My grandfather died of prostate cancer around 1990. That’s why my mother at all times said, “You’re not too big or too strong to go to the doctor.” ” He said his dad had the identical approach. This is a man who will make an appointment to deal with your concerns, big and small.

Professor Miller says that when black men are raised in an environment where routine medical examinations are normal, they’ve less fear of going to the doctor. Conversely, women find out about gynecological examinations at a young age. For most men, especially black men, before a prostate exam, probably the most invasive exam they experience is a dental exam.

Fenton also believes that many black men hear mostly negative stories about prostate screening and treatment. While they might hear about someone going through treatment and coping with urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, they do not hear or see enough about how medications and screenings improve quality of life.

Lack of trust in the medical system can also be a key factor in black men’s reluctance to undergo prostate screening. Several urologists in fact, these are men of color, so the likelihood of somebody with the ability to go to a urologist who looks like them and find a way to discover culturally is low.

Keeping black men alive

The first step to getting tested for black men is to elucidate the method. What is prostate screening? In the past, this involved digital rectal examination (DRE). Your doctor will examine your rectum and examine your prostate for any lumps, lumps, or hardness, in conjunction with a blood test. “A lot of people have done research on whether the blood test itself is OK,” McNeil says. “Although many organizations still recommend using both drugs, some of the latest research shows that a blood test alone may be sufficient.”

There are screening recommendations for different age groups. Some organizations recommend that individuals ages 55 to 70 talk over with their doctor about prostate cancer screening. This is known as collaborative decision-making. You discuss it and choose whether you wish to get tested. Very Urological organizations recommend screening tests aged 50 to 70.

“If you’re in a high-risk group, you might want to have a conversation about screening at age 45,” McNeil says, “and if you’re in a very, very high-risk group, you might want to consider having that conversation at age 40.”

McNeil says your risk level is set by your age and whether you’ve gotten a member of the family who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, resembling a father, uncle, brother or cousin. “The age at which a person is diagnosed with prostate cancer matters,” he says. “You want to consider whether your relative died from complications related to prostate cancer.” Perhaps you’ve gotten a relative who was diagnosed with prostate cancer and it was a low-grade cancer who was treated, recovered, and lived a long life. But if you happen to are a member of the family who was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died that very same 12 months, it’s a completely different situation.

Studies have shown that certain genes related to other gynecological cancers could also be related to a higher risk of prostate cancer in men. Especially, BRCA one and two are related to an increased risk of prostate cancer. It is important to know your loved ones’s medical history, each in your father’s and mother’s sides.

“I discovered that this needed to be explained to black men, why they were at higher risk and the way vital it was to get this checked. It’s about explaining what which means so that they could make an informed decision,” Miller says.

And if it helps to simplify things, McNeil wants black men to keep in mind that, identical to a automotive, their body requires maintenance. Consider your urologist as a part of that maintenance. Good prostate health ensures higher peeing, uninterrupted sleep, and a satisfying sex life. And yes, it will probably keep them alive. “It’s not just about the finger,” McNeil says. “It’s about helping save lives.”