Mayo Clinic Minute: What Black men need to know about prostate cancer
The month of September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. It is one of the leading causes of cancer death in men overall. However, the disease disproportionately affects Black men.One in every six Black men will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime, compared to one in every eight other men. In addition, they are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer.
Dr. Cassandra Moore, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic, explains what Black men need to know to reverse the troubling trend.
Black men harshly impacted by prostate cancer
Men rarely discuss health issues that occur below the belt, but they should.
“It is the most common cancer in men outside of skin cancer, and it’s the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men,” according to Moore.
It is unclear why Black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer. Many factors, including genetics, diet, environment, access to care, and racial bias, are likely to play a role.
“There are studies that show that African American men are less likely to be offered treatments, be offered even clinical trials,” according to Moore.
It is critical to understand your family history. Starting at the age of 40, black men and those with a family history of prostate, breast, colon, or ovarian cancer should consider getting screened for prostate cancer.
“The BRCA gene, BRCA1 and 2, play a role in prostate cancer,” Dr. Moore explains.
Maintaining a diet high in fruits and vegetables, limiting red meat and processed foods, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising all help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
