It’s a shift from the usual tone of health messaging, and it lands at a time when many men still avoid the topic entirely. For former Titans tight end Delanie Walker and longtime Chiefs star Tony Gonzalez, the message feels personal. Both joined the campaign with a sense of responsibility shaped by their own experiences and the people they care about.

Delanie Walker Understands What’s at Stake

Delanie Walker joined the campaign shortly after losing a family member to prostate cancer. The timing made the invitation feel heavier than a typical partnership.

“It was a no-brainer,” he said. “Something had just happened in my family, and now I can spread a message that might help someone catch it earlier.”

Before filming, Walker didn’t know a blood test could be used for screening. He assumed the exam always involved a more invasive examination that many men avoid. Learning about the blood test changed how he talks about screening with the people around him.

“I had no idea you could take a blood test to get screened,” he said. “We can relax, because it’s a blood test.”

Walker believes athletes can help open the door to conversations men usually sidestep.

“We want people to understand we’re just like them,” he said. He also knows how prostate cancer affects Black men at higher rates. “You’re not counted out,” he said. “If you are forty and up, getting screened can help with early detection.”

Walker explained why humor feels right for this message. The pun on “tight end” gives men permission to laugh before they listen, and it takes the edge off. It turns a tense topic into something people can discuss. “You kind of walk into that doctor’s room tight,” he said. “We’re telling you that you don’t have to do that. You can relax. It’s just a blood test.”

What stayed with him most was what he learned about his own health. “I really had no idea about prostate cancer,” he said. “Being part of this campaign, I learned even more about it and what I need to do to take care of myself.”

Tony Gonzalez on Taking the First Step

Tony Gonzalez joined the campaign for a deeply personal reason. Prostate cancer has affected several members of his family, including his grandfather and his uncle, both of whom passed away from the disease. “It is something that is personal to me,” he said. “It has affected members of my family, so it is personal from that standpoint.”

He recalls the anxiety surrounding the traditional exam. He has been through it himself and knows how many men avoid screening because of it. The campaign’s focus on a blood test felt like a chance to shift that fear into something more manageable.

“This is an alternative way to doing it,” he said. “It’s a blood test.”

Gonzalez wants men to understand how accessible that first step can be. Prostate cancer is common, and early detection gives people the best chance at a strong outcome. “You can go out there and just get the blood test,” he said.

The Super Bowl gives the message a reach that few platforms can match. Gonzalez knows how many men will be watching and how many partners, friends, and family members will be watching with them.

“When they can see guys they love watching play, it spreads that awareness,” he said. He hopes it encourages people to start conversations that often feel uncomfortable. “This is an important thing to do. It’s for your health.”

Why Tight Ends Work

The campaign features eight men, a deliberate nod to the statistic that one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Seven are current or former tight ends, and each wore a jersey in the eighties at some point in his career. The number is symbolic, but it also helps connect the message to the people most likely to see it.

That connection matters because prostate cancer is often silent in the early stages. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test measures a protein in the blood that may indicate changes in the prostate. It’s a simple blood draw that saves lives.

What They Want You to Know

Both Gonzalez and Walker want men to understand that the hardest part is starting the conversation. The campaign offers a way in. A simple blood test.

“It’s a conversation that needs to be had,” Gonzalez said. Walker agrees. “If cancer is at its lowest, we can treat it,” he said. “If it’s too late, it’s hard to treat.”

The next move is simple. Take the test. Tell your loved ones. Stay ahead by catching early.

It doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Breathe in, breathe out, and relax. All it takes is a blood test.

Resources:

Find a Prostate Cancer Screening | Relax it’s a Blood Test

The post “Relax, It’s a Blood Test” Delanie Walker and Tony Gonzalez Talk Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

But when you look closely at where cancer research is strongest, a pattern emerges that is hard to ignore. The states leading the country in research are not the states where Black Americans live in the greatest numbers. That gap shapes who benefits from the country’s most advanced cancer breakthroughs.

The States Winning the Research Race

SmileHub’s 2026 ranking of the best states for cancer research highlights the places with the deepest research ecosystems. These states have the most researchers per capita, the strongest funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Cancer Society (ACS), the highest clinical trial output, and the most robust cancer care infrastructure.

The top 10 states for cancer research are:

1. Massachusetts
2. New York
3. California
4. Pennsylvania
5. Colorado
6. Maryland
7. Oregon
8. Virginia
9. Connecticut
10. Minnesota

The ranking is built on thirteen metrics, including NIH grant funding, ACS funding, clinical trial activity, and hospital quality data from U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals for Cancer.

Massachusetts leads the list with top scores in both research funding and research output. New York ranks first in health care infrastructure. California sits in the top three across funding, output, and hospital quality. These states have long histories of academic investment, major research universities, and strong philanthropic networks.

But this map tells only one story. The real story is about who lives where.

Where Black America Actually Lives

Neilsberg’s 2025 analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) data shows a clear picture of where Black Americans live today. The five states with the largest Black populations are Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, and California. These states anchor the modern Black population map. Pew Research Center reports that more than half of all Black Americans, about 56 percent, live in the South, which underscores how deeply rooted the population is in this region.

According to Neilsberg’s Black population ranking, Texas has 4,146,550 Black residents, which is 11.66 percent of the state’s population. Florida has 3,900,650, or 15.24 percent. Georgia has 3,648,016, representing 31.27 percent of the state. New York has 3,519,047, and California has 2,841,399.

Together, these five states account for more than 38 percent of all Black Americans.

A Map That Leaves Too Many Behind

The states with the largest Black populations rarely appear near the top of cancer research rankings. Georgia ranks thirty-eight. Florida ranks thirty. Texas ranks twenty-two. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina all fall in the bottom fifteen, even though they are home to some of the country’s most concentrated Black communities.

That gap has real consequences. Black Americans continue to face the highest cancer mortality rates in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. When the strongest research ecosystems are located far from the communities carrying the highest burden, access to clinical trials, specialty care, and advanced treatment becomes uneven by design.

When Distance Becomes a Barrier to Survival

Cancer research is tied to place. Clinical trials usually require in person visits. High quality cancer hospitals cluster in specific regions. Funding from the National Institutes of Health flows to institutions with long established research capacity. Insurance coverage varies by state. These factors shape who gets early detection, who gets advanced treatment, and who gets to participate in the studies that guide national standards of care.

When research is concentrated in the Northeast and West, and the highest burden communities are concentrated in the South, the result is a structural divide.

Black Americans are less likely to live near cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). They are less likely to be offered clinical trial participation. They are less likely to receive proper care. These patterns appear consistently in national cancer disparities reports and peer-reviewed research.

SmileHub did not create these disparities. But when its data is read through a different lens, the gaps reveal themselves with uncomfortable clarity.

What Real Investment Would Look Like

Imagine a South with more NCI designated cancer centers, stronger clinical trial networks, and research universities that anchor long-term investment. A South with increased NIH and ACS funding, deeper community-based research partnerships, better insurance coverage, and high-quality cancer hospitals within reach.

Imagine a research landscape that follows need instead of legacy.

The data points toward a future where investment is measured not only by scientific output, but by who can reach the front door of a research center. A future where breakthroughs are shaped by the communities that carry the highest burden. A future where geography is not destiny.

The Question We Cannot Ignore

The United States is investing billions to end cancer. But unless research infrastructure expands into the states where Black Americans actually live, the benefits of that investment will remain uneven. The communities with the highest cancer burden will continue to be left behind.

The country has the science, the momentum, and the resources to change the story of cancer. What remains uncertain is whether that progress will reach the communities that have carried the heaviest burden for the longest time.

Resources:

Cancer statistics, 2026 – Siegel – 2026 – CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians – Wiley Online Library

Best States for Cancer Research in 2026

Best Hospitals for Cancer in the U.S. | Rankings & Ratings

States in United States ranked by Black population – 2025 | Neilsberg

Facts About the U.S. Black Population | Pew Research Center

Cancer statistics for African American and Black people, 2025 – Saka – 2025 – CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians – Wiley Online Library

The post Cancer Research Isn’t Reaching Black America appeared first on Black Health Matters.

This News Didn’t Come Out of Left Field

“It’s not the kind of news anyone wants to hear, but to be honest, prostate cancer has run through my family. My father had it. He had a lot of brothers; several of them had it. I would have been surprised if I hadn’t gotten it,” said the 73-year-old actor.

“I’ve got a 90-year-old first cousin, who’s still alive, actually; he had it. His son has it. A couple of his brothers had it. No one, as far as I know, has succumbed to it.”

The Statistics

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, 1 in 6 Black men still develop prostate cancer and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease. The National Cancer Institute says that prostate cancer is highly heritable. Inherited factors cause up to 60% of prostate cancer risk. “Risk factors for prostate cancer include age, a family history of prostate cancer and other cancers, genetics, and ancestry (such as West African ancestry).” You can take a risk quiz here.

Because of His Family History, Pickens Began PSA Testing Early

Pickens’ dedication to his health may have helped catch his prostate cancer early. “I  started getting my annual physical 34 years ago. And I started my PSA testing when I was 41; I’m 73 now. My urologist said. ‘Because you were so diligent in that piece of your health, it was to your advantage. We were able to catch it so early because you were being tested.”

Pickens’ Diagnosis

In 2024, the actor went for his annual physical, which included checking his PSA levels.  He was referred to a urologist, who told him his numbers were still in the normal range, but they needed to check again in a year.

“I went back in January, and when my PSA numbers came back,  my primary said, ‘Yeah, you know what? It’s ticked up some more. I want to send you back to the urologist.” Pickens said.

“The urologist looked at him and said,” Yeah, there’s something here. Let’s do an MRI,’ which we did, and it revealed, as he called it,  something suspicious.”

They scheduled a biopsy, which revealed a tumor. A PET scan showed that the cancer had not spread and was isolated to one quadrant of the prostate.

His Treatment Choice

The Grey’s star had two options: radiation, or he could elect to do a radical prostatectomy. After weighing the options, he chose the latter. His radical prostatectomy was done robotically by two urologists. He stayed a day in the hospital afterward.

“We caught it really early, and so they thought that would be the best route to take.  I do have a rare variant that you don’t see very often. They wanted to err on the side of caution and keep an eye on it,” he said.

“It was rare enough that they wanted to make sure that they were crossing all the T’s and dotting all their I’s. But they hadn’t seen one that was detected as early as mine.”

Why He’s Sharing His Story

Pickens wants to remove the stigma that men have in talking about their health, especially prostate cancer. “Where we are and how we view the medical community, especially as African American men,” he points out.

“We know the history of that, and how far that goes back in terms of our trepidation about being tested, and getting something as simple as a physical.”

Years ago, the actor participated in a Black barbershop men’s health summit with Dick Gregory. The group targeted 50 cities to set up screenings at barbershops and offered free haircuts. In the process, they might get their blood pressure checked and brochures on prostate cancer and diabetes. He got the group to add his hometown, Cleveland, to the tour.

“We brought in a wonderful, bright, Black physician out of the DC area and his team. And we identified ten barbershops in the area where I lived. These brothers would come in and get a haircut,” Pickens said.  ”

We were able to get a blood pressure test and put something in their hand. And in more than one case, we would run into brothers who  had never had a physical.”

It’s Movember, A Time to Talk About Prostate Cancer

If you have ever noticed men growing out their facial hair in November, they are probably doing so in for Movember, in support of men’s health, among the major initiatives is prostate cancer.

“I recall when I was a kid, my dad was one of many brothers. I think he may have had seven, eight brothers. But I know at least four or five were still alive when I was a kid.  When one of them would fall ill, my dad would grow a mustache. And he’d grow a beard with it,” Pickens said.

“I remember asking, very clearly, like it was yesterday. I said, ‘Dad, why are you growing your beard like that? He said, I’m growing it for my brother who was sick.’ So there was a cultural piece to it as well.”

 

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Resources

Prostate Cancer Foundation

National Cancer Institute

Zero Prostate Cancer Risk Factors

Mayo Clinic: Prostatectomy

The post Grey’s Anatomy Doc Shares His Real-Life Health Diagnosis appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What the Beyond the Belief Session Covered

The session featured intergenerational elements. They were designed to highlight the new stages of life. The idea is to expand conversations and stay connected to the condition. As people live longer with the condition, this session was the first step in helping us realize we need to adapt our thinking.

The session brought “real stories of aging, community, and many forms of belief that continue to move us forward—whether rooted in faith, science, relationships, or lived experience” to thousands of attendees at the conference. “A variety of cultural and historical factors, such as religious and moral belief systems and political ideologies, can manifest in health care systems’ policies,” according to the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics. Interacting with faith-based communities and respecting patients’ faith has proven to be an effective strategy for engaging populations that need it the most.

Rae Lewis-Thorton is Fighting for Policy Changes and Access to Treatments

Lewis-Thornton made her presence known in the session. As an icon in the community, she uses her voice to fight for policy changes and increased access to treatment. Her life stands as an example of the hope found by many today. “There were no medicines to treat HIV, and funeral directors were afraid to even bury somebody with HIV, so you know it was a cruel time, and so I kept my infection a secret for seven years. I think I told five people those first seven years,” she told Black Health Matters.

She went from living with the secret to speaking out boldly, going beyond fear and shame, bolstered by her belief. She told the story of how one can thrive after a diagnosis. Since then, her voice has encouraged many others. Lewis spoke on the importance of incorporating spaces that hold the beliefs of others as something of value alongside useful scientific information.

Living Beyond Belief

“When we begin to think about where we are with this disease? Yeah. I am living beyond belief, and I think a lot of that has to do with science, and I think a whole lot of it has to do with God,” said Lewis-Thorton.

A 2024 study at Harvard argued that “In a reimagined clinical and public health system, spiritual factors would be routinely considered in creating person- and community-centered policy and practice.” It identified spirituality as a determinant of health.

“It’s important that we all work to make HIV a smaller part of people’s lives who are living with HIV, and that includes reducing stigma that includes holistic health and seeing people less as whole humans and the wholeness of their humanity, meaning that it is important that we recognize all parts of us and all parts of our health,” said Randevyn Piérre, Head of U.S. External Affairs, ViiV Healthcare.

Reality star and entrepreneur Dwight Eubanks shared how his place of worship led to his prostate cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

You can’t see that wholeness unless you go to where the people are, something the session was determined to do.

A 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health (OMH), Black women were 10 times more likely than non-Hispanic White women to be diagnosed with HIV.

You Can’t Fight This Disease Alone: Community is Key

When we examine the numbers and who is being infected, community organizations must be part of the response.

“Black women are in the church, and so it’s important that organizations that do this work like this speak to us in our social location, that they speak to us at the center of who we are,” said Lewis-Thornton.

“People who are living with this disease need something greater than themselves, something higher than themselves in their lives. And so, whatever they, however they, address their spirituality. I think it is significant to live with this disease. You can’t not do it. You know, we are not super people and we cannot do it alone, and I think we need to believe in something greater than us.”

But Black women can’t be both the most infected and the only ones stepping up to treat them. How will faith-based organizations commit themselves to this work in the future?

They Incorporated Contemporary Worship Music to Help Deliver the Message to Millennials and Gen Z

Because the audience spanned a range of ages, the session used a more Contemporary style of praise and worship to bridge the gap. It represented a shift towards inclusion, reflecting the way millennials and Gen Z communicate. Lewis-Thornton described the energy present during the musical interlude.

“Everyone receives messages and communications differently, depending on the messenger, depending on the channel. So, for us to be able to amplify this crucial information around HIV, and to prioritize awareness in different ways, is really an awesome opportunity that’s really critical,” said Randevyn Piérre, Head of U.S. External Affairs, ViiV Healthcare.

“ViiV is really committed to reaching communities in ways that are relatable, and in ways that are relevant, and in ways that resonate and music resonates in many ways with many people, and so we wanted to try something that we’d seen, popping up, in different spaces online that folks were really reacting to and sort of make it relatable and tie it into the experience at USCHA.”

Resources

HIV.gov

American Medical Association Journal of Ethics

HHS.gov

The post Beyond Belief: Surviving & Thriving with HIV/AIDS appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The answer is not simple, but it is evolving. While no single ingredient can stop cancer, research continues to show that diet may influence how prostate cancer behaves, especially in its early stages. In a healthcare system that often misses the mark for Black men, food offers a way to take back some control.

What the MEAL Study Taught Us

The Men’s Eating and Living (MEAL) study was one of the first large-scale trials to explore whether increasing vegetable intake could influence prostate cancer progression. Men with early-stage prostate cancer were randomized to receive counseling aimed at raising their vegetable consumption to at least seven servings per day, with a focus on cruciferous and carotenoid-rich vegetables. The control group received written dietary guidance without structured support.

After two years, researchers found no significant difference in tumor progression. However, the study demonstrated that men can change how they eat and maintain those changes. That foundation has shaped newer studies with stronger outcomes.

What We Know Now About Diet and Prostate Cancer

Recent research from Johns Hopkins has added clarity to how diet may shape prostate cancer outcomes. In a study of 886 men with low-grade prostate cancer on active surveillance, researchers found that those with higher Healthy Eating Index scores were less likely to see their cancer progress. For every 12.5-point increase in HEI score, the risk of moving to a more aggressive stage dropped—15 percent for grade group 2, and 30 percent for grade group 3.

The Healthy Eating Index is a way to measure how well someone’s diet aligns with national nutrition guidelines. It doesn’t require strict meal plans or expensive ingredients. Instead, it favors everyday foods that support the body and reduce inflammation. That can include familiar staples like collards, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, okra, brown rice, and leafy greens. It’s not about cutting everything out. It’s about building meals that work with your body, not against it.

Foods That Support Prostate Health

Certain foods may help the body respond better to prostate cancer. They won’t cure it, but they can support your health in ways that matter.

Tomatoes, especially when cooked, release a compound called lycopene. It’s an antioxidant that may help slow cancer growth. Think tomato sauce, stews, or roasted tomatoes. Heat makes it easier for your body to absorb and use.

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts contain natural chemicals that help clear out toxins. These are easy to steam, sauté, or toss into a stir-fry.

Fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel are rich in healthy fats that calm inflammation. Two servings a week is a good place to start.

Green tea and pomegranate juice are packed with antioxidants that may help protect prostate cells. Some studies suggest they can help lower PSA levels, which is one way doctors track prostate cancer. PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate. When levels rise, it can be a sign that cancer is growing or becoming more aggressive.

Pumpkin seeds offer zinc, which supports prostate function. They’re easy to sprinkle on oatmeal, salads, or roasted vegetables.

Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are full of nutrients that fight stress in the body. Fresh or frozen, they’re simple to add to breakfast or snacks.

Leafy greens like spinach and kale help reduce inflammation and support overall health. You can blend them into smoothies, cook them down with garlic, or serve them with grains.

For a more detailed breakdown of foods to eat and avoid, explore the University of California, San Francisco’s Diet Recommendations Pamphlet.

Why This Matters for Black Men

Black men are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men. According to the American Cancer Society’s 2025 report, they face a 16 percent higher mortality rate despite only a 4 percent higher incidence. This gap reflects systemic failures in early detection, access to guideline-based care, and inclusion in clinical trials.

Between 1991 and 2022, cancer mortality among Black men aged 40 to 59 declined by up to 67 percent. That progress is real, but it is not universal. It stems from reduced smoking rates and treatment advances, not from structural change. Black men continue to be diagnosed later, treated less aggressively, and excluded from the research that shapes care.

Lifestyle shifts offer a form of agency in a system that rarely prioritizes Black health. Food is not a replacement for treatment, but it can be a powerful ally.

Steps You Can Take Today

If you or someone you love is navigating prostate cancer, here are shifts worth considering:

• Add fatty fish like salmon or sardines twice a week.
• Use olive or avocado oil instead of seed oils.
• Incorporate beans, lentils, and whole grains regularly.
• Cut back on fried and ultra-processed foods.
• Include cooked tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables, and berries in weekly meals.
• Sprinkle in flaxseed or chia for plant-based omega-3s.

Always consult your care team before starting supplements or making major dietary changes.

Changing your diet will not erase a diagnosis. But it can support your body, your treatment, and your future. For Black men facing higher risks and fewer resources, food is care. It’s a way to stay present, stay grounded, and stay involved in your own healing.

Resources:

A Randomized Trial of Diet in Men with Early Stage Prostate Cancer on Active Surveillance: Rationale and Design of the Men’s Eating and Living (MEAL) Study (CALGB 70807 [Alliance]) – PMC

Slowing Cancer Through Better Eating | Johns Hopkins Medicine

P8-II-Diet_Guide_web [2].pdf

Cancer statistics for African American and Black people, 2025

The post Can Your Plate Protect Your Prostate? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Here’s what you might not hear enough: what you do after a diagnosis matters. And movement, the kind you do every day, can help you live longer.

What the Science Says

According to a 2025 report from the American Cancer Society (ACS), prostate cancer is now the most diagnosed cancer among men in the U.S. More than 313,000 cases are expected this year. And while early-stage cases often have high survival rates, advanced-stage diagnoses are rising, especially among Black men.

Research shows that movement can make a real difference. A 2021 study published in JAMA Oncology found that men with prostate cancer who engaged in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) during active surveillance saw improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and in markers linked to slower disease progression.

At Memorial Sloan Kettering, researchers studied whether exercise could affect prostate cancer directly. This study examined how men perceived their condition and how their tumors behaved.

Men scheduled for surgery walked on treadmills at home for about four weeks. Those who exercised at least 225 minutes a week showed changes in two key biomarkers:

•  Ki-67, which tracks how fast cancer cells are dividing.
•  PSA, which signals prostate cancer activity and risk.

Lower levels of both suggest slower tumor growth. Most participants were inactive before the trial, and more than a third identified as nonwhite. The exercise was safe, consistent, and done entirely at home.

While the trial didn’t measure survival, it showed that movement can influence the biology of the disease.

What Black Men Are Up Against

Prostate cancer affects Black men more severely because of delayed diagnoses, limited access, and medical systems that don’t always respond with urgency or equity.

In our community, people aren’t always told what to watch for. Screenings come late. Treatment isn’t always aggressive, and research often leaves us out. Movement won’t fix everything, but it helps. It supports sleep, stress, strength, and survival. It’s something we can do while the rest catch up.

Move With Purpose

You don’t need to run miles or lift heavy. The CDC recommends:

• 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, like walking, dancing, or yard work.
• 75 minutes of vigorous activity like jogging or cycling.
• Two days of strength training for major muscle groups.

For people with prostate cancer, these guidelines still apply. They should be adjusted based on energy levels, treatment stage, and safety. Movement doesn’t have to be intense. It can be light, structured, or flexible. Even seated stretches, short walks, or using household items for resistance count.

If treatment side effects are slowing you down, start where you are. Stretch in the morning. Walk at lunch. Dance with your kids. What matters is consistency and paying attention to what your body can handle.

Talk to your doctor or a physical therapist about what’s safe for you. Ask about programs that understand your needs. Some hospitals offer exercise oncology support, and many community centers now host classes designed for survivors.

Your Strongest Resource

The journey won’t look the same for everyone. Some find peace in morning jogs. Others prefer walking, stretching, or lifting light weights. Exercise helps, but it’s not just about routines. It’s about intention. About finding what motivates you, what feels good, and what fits into your life.

If you’re wondering what to carry with you, bring purpose, trust in your body, and the instinct to keep moving when things feel uncertain.

That’s where the progress can begin.

Resources:

Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer | Prostate Cancer Facts | American Cancer Society

Effects of Exercise on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Biochemical Progression in Men With Localized Prostate Cancer Under Active Surveillance: The ERASE Randomized Clinical Trial | Cardiology | JAMA Oncology | JAMA Network

Can Exercise Impact Prostate Cancer? A First of its Kind Clinical Trial | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Adult Activity: An Overview | Physical Activity Basics | CDC

The post Regular Exercise May Boost Prostate Cancer Survival appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Obesity adds another layer of risk, intensifying the likelihood of aggressive tumors and late-stage diagnoses.

How Obesity Alters Cancer Behavior

Obesity affects how the body functions, including how it responds to cancer. Fat tissue can stir up inflammation and shift hormone levels, which may help prostate cancer grow or spread. These changes can make the disease harder to treat, especially when it’s caught late.

A recent study published in BMC Cancer found that men who gained weight after a prostate cancer diagnosis had a 64 percent higher risk of dying from the disease. Researchers believe this may reflect underlying illness, treatment side effects, or disease progression.

Another study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found that men with obesity were more likely to die from prostate cancer, even when they received regular screenings. Researchers did not identify a single cause, but they pointed to challenges in detection.

PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, is a protein measured in the blood to help spot prostate cancer early. In people with obesity, PSA levels can be diluted by a larger blood volume, which may make results appear lower than they actually are. That can delay follow-up testing.

Additionally, rectal exams may be harder to perform accurately in men with obesity, which can affect how well the prostate is assessed during screening. These screening limitations can allow the cancer to grow before it is caught, making treatment more difficult and survival less likely.

Diagnoses Are Rising, Especially in Late Stages

Data from ACS shows that prostate cancer rates, which had been declining for years, began increasing around 2014. Between then and 2021, new cases rose by about 3 percent annually. The most concerning trend is in advanced-stage diagnoses, which are growing fastest in men over 55. These late-stage cases are harder to treat and carry a much lower chance of survival.

The same report estimates that men diagnosed early have a five-year survival rate close to 100 percent. For those whose cancer has already spread, that number drops to just 38 percent. Researchers point to reduced screening and delayed detection as key factors behind the shift, especially in communities with limited access to care.

Screening Isn’t Reaching Those Who Need It Most

In 2012, federal guidelines advised against routine PSA testing, which led to fewer screenings and more late-stage diagnoses, especially among Black men. Providers became less likely to offer the test, and insurance coverage grew more limited. Even after the guidelines were updates in 2018, screening rates haven’t fully recovered. The effects of that rollback are still felt today, especially within our community.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation now urges Black men to begin screening discussions between ages 40 and 45. The American Cancer Society recommends starting at 45 for those at higher risk, including men with a family history. Despite these guidelines, many Black men still face barriers to screening, including cost and limited provider access.

The Policy Pivot

In 2023, lawmakers introduced the PSA Screening for HIM Act. The bill aimed to require insurance plans to cover prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men without out-of-pocket costs. It named Black men and those with a family history as priority groups and called for screening to begin at age 40. Although it didn’t pass, it marked a shift. For the first time, federal policy acknowledged the survival gap and the need to screen earlier.

In 2025, the bill returned as H.R.1300 in the 119th Congress. Sponsored by Rep. Neal Dunn and co-sponsored by Rep. Yvette Clarke and others, it calls for mandatory coverage of PSA screenings starting at age 40 for men at high risk. That includes Black men, men with a family history, and those whose providers identify elevated risk due to obesity.

The bill removes cost-sharing, which means no co-pays or deductibles for eligible screenings. It also highlights the contrast in outcomes. Nearly 100 percent survive when caught early; just 37 percent when caught late.

The bill is still in committee, but its message matters. It shows that these concerns are being heard and could be acted on in the future. Policy is beginning to reflect what Black men, and their families have long known. Early screening saves lives, and equity starts with access.

Resources:

Press Releases

Weight gain or loss after diagnosis and survival outcomes in prostate cancer: a meta-analysis | BMC Cancer | Full Text

Growing implications of obesity for prostate cancer risk and mortality: where do we go from here? | JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute | Oxford Academic

Archived: Prostate Cancer: Screening | United States Preventive Services Taskforce

Prostate Cancer Foundation Highlights Evidence-Based Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines for Black Men | Prostate Cancer Foundation

American Cancer Society Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Early Detection | American Cancer Society

Text – H.R.1826 – 118th Congress (2023-2024): PSA Screening for HIM Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Text – H.R.1300 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): PSA Screening for HIM Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

The post Obesity Can Increase Prostate Cancer Risk in Black Men appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“There are also times when I’m not feeling so great. And I will consult with a doctor. I think it’s good, from a physical standpoint, but mental health is vital. Westbrook explained.

I think that when we are in this day-to-day grind, we forget to check on our mental health.”

Westbrook is returning to co-host the BHM Harlem Week 2025 Health Summit & Expo and wants to see more of his peers at Riverside Church on August 14, 2025.

Why Health Matters Are Personal for Westbrook

The Emmy award-winning reporter grew up in Harlem. Westbrook says his parents were always adamant about getting him regular screenings and heart-related matters.

“Especially, my dad, Artie, in particular. Unfortunately, he passed away a couple of years ago and due to complications with his heart,” Westbrook recalled.

“So I know just growing up with them, they were always big into just making sure that you’re on top of your health and going to the doctor as often as possible.”

Westbrook also noticed that many of his peers have become parents themselves. That has also made them pay more attention to their well-being. “They’re seeing that it’s beneficial to stay on top of their health as well as their child’s health,” he explained.

Diseases Like Colon and Prostate Cancer Are Impacting Younger People

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 5 people diagnosed with colon cancer, for example, will be under the age of 55. Some of the contributing factors include:

• having obesity and a sedentary lifestyle
• long-term smoking and heavy alcohol consumption
• a  high-fat, low-fiber diet

Westbrook Says Social Media Can Be a Powerful Teaching Tool

“Social media is such a powerful tool. I think that the more you know, the more you grow.”  If word is being spread out there about the importance of getting screened or tested for certain things,” he said.

“It’ll resonate with people. And I think especially with my age group. I’m in that millennial age group. And so I think we’re starting even to see a shift in how we’re conceptualizing our health and why it’s so important.”

Westbrook gave an example. “Wait until your 40s to get a prostate exam. But now, the advice is “if you feel that certain things aren’t right, get screened. Go see a doctor,” he said

Why Westbrook Keeps Coming Back to the Harlem Summit

“This would be my fourth time participating in the Black Health Matters Summit, and it’s a fun event,” he said. “Just the energy with everyone there, from the different sessions, panel discussions, and the energy in general, is so electrifying,” the reporter said.

“But I think people walk out of there feeling motivated to be on top of their health, and I would love for that to be continued this time around. It’s just amazing to hear from folks after a panel discussion say,

‘You know, I’ve really learned a lot from these professionals who are up there on stage about this particular subject matter.’

People are invested in these things, and so I’m hoping that that’s the same notion that resonates again,” he continued.

Westbrook Wants to See His Peers There

One of the reasons that Westbrook keeps coming back is that he has seen the sessions be beneficial to participants’ lives year after year. Those benefits have no age limit. So he’s doing his best to convince his peers to show up, starting with some of his friends.

“I’m trying to encourage some of my friends to spread the word about it. Because it’s not an “older person’s problem”. Again, we’re seeing people my age and younger, developing ailments that, years ago, we never would have thought would ever occur,” Westbrook notes.

So that’s what I’m hoping for this time, right? To be inspired, to be motivated, and, of course, to have fun.”

Join Elijah Westbrook at the BHM Harlem Week Health Summit & Expo in-person or virtually by registering through this link.

The post Elijah Westbrook Wants Millennials to Take Their Health Seriously appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Discovering His Diagnosis While Serving Others

“My grandfather died from prostate cancer 20-something years ago, and so I was always conscious of my health,” he explained.

Eubanks was serving in his capacity as one of the organizers of the health fair at his church, demonstrating how easy it was to have one’s PSA numbers checked. Within minutes, he learned his numbers were in the danger zone.

Understanding PSA Numbers

A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. “Normal” PSA ranges vary by age.

“In general, a PSA level above 4.0 ng/mL is considered abnormal and may result in a recommendation for prostate biopsy,” according to the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health.

While working at his church’s health summit, Eubanks learned his PSA level was twice the normal level. It was in the 8s. He had previously been in the 6s, but he was never told.

“It was really shocking to find out that in 2022, it was diagnosed, but nobody said anything to me,” he continued.

How Eubanks’ Diagnosis Got Lost in the System

The longtime HCP of the frequent face on The Real Housewives of Atlanta passed away. Eubanks had no clue his records were in limbo. His new doctor never admitted they didn’t have it. Instead, they pretended they did and asked questions to try to fill in the blanks.

“My doctor didn’t come out of the gate and tell me that he didn’t have my records,” he said. “Nor did my insurance offer to provide me with any information, claiming they didn’t have anything either.”

However, Eubanks was fortunate enough to find a doctor committed to presenting him with a full picture of his health. “He was able to track [my health history] back through my labs,” he said.

Black Men and Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is extremely common. A 2025 review in the Journal of the American Medical Association states that “Prostate cancer is the most common nonskin cancer in men in the US.”

The risk is even greater in the Black community. “Black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer, with earlier presentation, more aggressive disease, and higher mortality rates versus White men,” according to the American Cancer Society.

They are 70% more likely to develop prostate cancer. Their outcomes are worse as well. Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer. The disparity is even more significant in Eubanks’ home state of Georgia. It is fifth nationwide.

Misconceptions about PSA Testing

Eubanks cited misinformation about how PSA levels are checked as one of the contributing factors for why people do not get tested.

“Guys have to get out of their heads about having their prostate checked through the anus,” he said. PSA tests can be conducted through a rapid blood draw process. It is a quick and minimally invasive way to educate yourself about your health.

An Overlooked Symptom

He pointed out a significant symptom of prostate cancer that goes unnoticed. Previously, he attributed his frequent urination to the amount of water he was drinking. He was wrong. “That was a sign. You know? My bladder was overactive,” he declared.

Finding Purpose Under Pressure

Eubanks partnered with ZERO Prostate Cancer to help him spread awareness and increase access to those who need it the most. The organization has offered “resources, programs, and services” to those fighting or at risk for prostate cancer and their loved ones for nearly 30 years.

They are aiming to ensure 10,000 men a month get appointments for PSA tests.

Advocacy is nothing new to Eubanks. He has aided in producing health summits, community feedings, and other philanthropic events for decades through his church Victory for the World.

He has comforted others on a smaller scale as well. A frequent traveler to Saint Lucia, he has brought back items to soothe those in his life who are dealing with the symptoms of illness.

“I’ve been bringing back soursop leaves and bark and giving it to people that had health challenges, and lo and behold, I’m needing it now, so it’s just really interesting how God has been preparing me for this day, and I had no idea,” he said.

Soursop has been known to “possess therapeutic effects due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gastroprotective properties,” according to the  Journal of Molecules.

How Eubanks Practices Self-Care

He is currently meditating and working with his urologist and primary care provider on a treatment plan that is right for him.

He strongly encouraged those without resources to attend public events and gain the knowledge they need. “When you have a health fair or summit or anything free in your community, go go go! Because the information is there, you have the medical professionals there.”

It can be hard to prioritize your health as your to-do list expands. But Eubanks stressed the importance of putting your well-being first.

“I encourage people to take the time. It’s your health,” he said. “No matter how much wealth, how many bedrooms you have in your house, what car you drive, without your health, none of that is relevant.”

And while the world might know him for external elegance, Dwight Eubanks is focused on what lies within.

“It doesn’t matter what label is on your shoes or outfits. None of that matters when you don’t have good health and strength,” he added. “That’s the number one thing.”

References

NCI: PSA Fact Sheet

Journal of the American Cancer Society: The Review

Racial Disparities of Black Men with Prostate Cancer: American Cancer Society

Journal of Molecules.

The post Dwight Eubanks’ Initial Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Was Lost appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Dr. Langston D. Smith, DMD, MS, MHED (above), the Deputy Surgeon General for Dental Health, offered opening and closing remarks for the evening.

Early Prostate Cancer Detection Can Save Your Life

ZERO Prostate Cancer Chief Mission Officer, Brian Bragg, provided an Overview of prostate cancer and its impact on Black men.

• Black men are 1.7x more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Because they are often diagnosed later, Black men are 2.1x more likely to die from prostate cancer than white men.

When Should You Get Screened?

Bragg told attendees that their screening needs will primarily depend on their family and/health history. He encouraged the brothers to take charge of their health by visiting this link to assess their risks. Then discuss their concerns with their primary care doctor about when an initial PSA screening would be appropriate. For those who have a family history, screening may begin at age 40.

Partner With Your HCP For More Positive Outcomes

Michael Daniels, MD, a board-certified urologic surgeon who leads Germantown Urology in Germantown, PA, provided an encouraging keynote talk. He told the Alpha brothers they needed to use their voices at their doctor appointments. They had to work in partnership with their HCPs when it came to making treatment decisions and exploring experimental treatments (e.g., intensification/combination therapy). These options may not always be offered, but speaking up and pursuing treatments that give Black men the best outcomes can help.

Why Prostate Cancer Screenings Are Critical

Dr. Daniels also provided a quick overview of the prostate, stating that symptoms of prostate cancer are rarely experienced before cancer is advanced, thus supporting prevention and annual screenings.

Preventing Prostate Cancer With Healthier Lifestyle Choices

Dr. Daniels is an advocate of plant-based or plant-heavy eating, while avoiding processed foods, sugar, and alcohol. He reminded the audience that smoking is a cause or contributing cause for most cancers.

In addition to mentioning treatment options and recent advancements (this is not your father’s prostate cancer), Dr. Daniels emphasized the importance of listening to your doctor.

Resources for Education and Empowerment

Astellas Oncology contributed printed materials to help attendees better understand their health:

• “Understanding Rising PSA After Surgery and/or Radiation”
• “Know Your Prostate Plan”
• These brochures, filled with accessible, actionable information, helped reinforce the event’s core messages.

Post-Dinner Discussions

Post-dinner Table discussions were designed to explore the role Alpha Phi Alpha chapters can have in creating more awareness about prostate cancer and the risk to black men. Some discussed offered ideas, including chapters hosting or partnering for monthly health discussions at the chapter level, with a mention of “medical triage” to discuss health-related issues.

They also discussed ways to increase access to free PSA screenings. There was also a suggestion that chapters obtain information about health fairs and screening opportunities in the community and share that information with their brothers.

Doing your research and having an action plan were encouraged by some brothers. Personal stories were shared, including some regarding switching doctors when a doctor doesn’t express adequate concern over elevating PSA numbers.

When You Have a Family History of Prostate Cancer, You May Do Things Differently.

The idea of watch and wait isn’t appropriate for young men or those with a family history of prostate cancer, according to the opinion of some brothers whose families have been impacted and successfully treated with prostate cancer. One specifically mentioned his 92-year-old father, and both he and his father are doing well and are cancer-free post-treatments.

Conclusion

Health Equity Starts with Conversations. This dinner and discussion went beyond raising awareness—it lit a fire. By bringing together expert voices, resources, and the lived experiences of Black men, the event underscored that prostate cancer doesn’t have to be a silent killer. When Black men are equipped with knowledge, empowered to speak up, and supported by their communities, outcomes improve—and lives are saved.

The post Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Health Chairmen & Community Advocates Get Empowered appeared first on Black Health Matters.

And they are doing it for you.

Not for headlines. Not for sympathy. But because far too many Black men are still dying from a disease that is highly treatable when caught early. Because far too many families are blindsided by a diagnosis that could have been prevented or caught sooner. And because silence, especially among Black men, can cost lives.

Why This Story Matters—Right Now

Prostate cancer is a silent crisis in the Black community. Black men are 70% more likely to be diagnosed and twice as likely to die from the disease compared to white men. These aren’t just numbers. They are fathers, brothers, uncles, teammates, coaches, mentors—and they deserve better.

This Men’s Health Month, and especially this Father’s Day, the Houstons are urging Black men to change the narrative.

“We have to talk about it. We have to be intentional,” Allan Houston says. “Being proactive about your health is not just for you—it’s for the people who count on you. For the people you love.”

Houston, now Vice President of Player and Leadership Development with the New York Knicks, founder of FISLL, and a Board Member at ZERO Prostate Cancer, is also a prostate cancer survivor. Thirteen years after his father was diagnosed, he faced the disease himself. Their shared journey is now a rallying cry for intergenerational awareness and action.

A Conversation That Could Save Lives

Coach Wade Houston, the first Black head coach in the SEC and a man revered in the basketball world, wants Black men to hear this loud and clear: “Early detection can prevent a lot of the medical challenges that happen once it’s discovered,” he says. “You have to get tested—especially if it runs in your family.”

“Sometimes it is passed from grandfather to grandson, or father to son,” Coach Wade explains. And he was right to be concerned.

Years later, Allan noticed rising PSA levels—an early warning sign. “I had a heightened awareness,” he says. “When the numbers started to go up, we had deeper conversations. But until you live it, that’s when the real conversation starts.”

For both men, the experience was about more than medicine—it was spiritual, emotional, and deeply personal.

“I didn’t tell my kids right away,” Allan reflects. “I wanted to get through it first. But when I did, I told them: God has delivered us from a lot of things. This is just another one.”

Breaking the Cycle of Silence

Black men have long been taught to suffer in silence. Coach Wade knows this well. “For such a long time, it was taboo,” he says. “You didn’t talk about it. You didn’t go to the doctor. You didn’t share what was going on. But that’s the worst thing you can do. You need that support.”

Allan echoes that sentiment with a powerful sports metaphor: “In sports, you have to trust and communicate in real time. It’s the same with your health. Find someone you trust—your doctor, your brother, your father—and start the conversation.”

“So, you have to find someone that you trust. And for Black men, that is harder. We must be trustworthy, and we must trust someone. That’s the biggest thing for me, because once you do that,  you can have real conversations.”

This isn’t just about treatment. It’s about legacy. About survival. About love.

A Platform for Change

Earlier this year, Allan joined the Board of Directors at ZERO, the nation’s leading prostate cancer advocacy and support organization. And he’s not just lending his name—he’s leveraging his platform to reach the men who need to hear this message most.

ZERO’s Blitz the Barriers will combine education, outreach, and technology to break down barriers to equitable care across 12 highest-risk urban and rural communities over the next ten years.

ZERO’s new campaign, Blitz the Barriers, is the most ambitious project in the history of U.S. prostate cancer patient programs. The grassroots initiative aims to save 100K lives over the next 10 years by addressing critical disparities in prostate cancer outcomes head-on. Focused on education, outreach, and expanding access in 12 of the highest-risk communities, the effort is rooted in equity, urgency, and real, systemic change. And Allan’s voice and community partners like Black Health Matters are central to this effort.

“Talking about prostate cancer isn’t a weakness. It’s strength,” he says. “It’s being a leader. A protector. A father.”

Because this isn’t just a health issue—it’s a matter of life, legacy, and love. Watch Allan Houston’s powerful “New” Father’s Day PSA in partnership with ZERO Prostate Cancer BHM below.

The post A Game-Changing Conversation Between Father and Son appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We discussed his role, which involves aiding in the development and processes of health-related activities. That includes serving as a liaison to the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.’s health-related, pharmaceutical, and other partners to assist the brotherhood and the communities they serve in educational processes

What Health Initiatives Have Resonated With the Kappa Alpha Psi Brotherhood?

Martez notes that they deliver events through webinars and in person. “We’re a fraternity that has a majority of our brotherhood who are African American. Prostate cancer affects 6 out of 10 Black men, he explains.

“One of the organizations that we have partnered with is ZERO Prostate Cancer,” Martez continues. “With that partnership, we’re aiding and educating the members on the importance of knowing the signs of prostate cancer as well as the information to ask from their primary care physician.”

Martez stressed that for their members to have access to that information and be encouraged to undergo screenings helps them become good stewards of their own health.

One of the other initiatives that had many members of Kappa Alpha Psi Inc. talking is the “Are You Okay?” Program.

“Our 35th Grand Polemarch, Brother Jimmy McMickle, is a former track athlete at the University of Indiana, where we were founded,” Martez said. “And because of his mantra about activity, he had a vision for the program. We partnered with Johnson & Johnson. The program not only focuses on mental health. But it includes the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being.”

The Fraternity’s “Are You Okay? Facebook’s Group encourages its members to be physically active. Martez noted that they had a Biggest Loser competition underway, leading up to the Conclave, which will take place in Phoenix from July 1st to 6th. “We created a group in which everyone is your accountability partner,” he explains.

But those accountability partnerships mean so much more. “We have our accountability partners, but you know from a physical fitness standpoint, we have in that group as well where brothers have become so vulnerable,” Martez continues.

“That they really get in and talk about what they have going on, and then everyone in the group adds aids as a support system. So, we‘re extremely passionate about it.” Mental health became the gateway to talk about everything.

Martez says another health focus area Kappa Alpha Psi Inc. has focused on during the past few years is kidney disease. “We’ve been full steam ahead concerning kidney disease; we partnered with the American Kidney Fund for the second year in a row for AMKD Day on April 29,” he explained.

Alonzo Mourning attended a previous Kappa Alpha Psi Inc. Conclave to share his personal battle with kidney disease. “We were the first organization that he had the opportunity to come and share his story with.”

Since Black men are overwhelmingly impacted by kidney disease, educating them is critical.

“And not only that, just some of the risk factors that are associated with that are plagued more in the African American communities at large, diabetes can give you issues with your kidneys, and hypertension,” Martez said.

“So those things that impact our communities at a larger rate. It can increase our susceptibility to kidney disease. So again, it’s a domino effect,” Martez continued.

“It’s our job as pillars of the community to educate the communities at large as well as our membership on the importance of any disparity that we can.”

The post Antonio Martez: Keeping The Brothers Engaged Around Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

According to the New York Times, prostate cancer experts say that once the disease has spread to the bones, however, it cannot be cured. Dr. Judd Moul, a prostate cancer expert at Duke, told the Times that men whose prostate cancer has spread “can live five, seven, 10 or more years.”

President Biden’s announcement came as a shock to everyone. Black Health Matters joins in outpouring prayers and well wishes for him and his family. Yesterday, he posted this message on social media:

“Cancer touches us all. Like many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”

How Prostate Cancer Impacts Black Men

The former President’s diagnosis made us think about how prostate cancer impacts us both professionally and personally. I spoke with Brian Bragg, Chief Mission Officer at ZERO Prostate Cancer,  about why this is also a moment for Black men to take prostate cancer screening seriously. “Prostate cancer adversely impacts Black men in particular; sounding the alarm for them is all about early detection.”

According to research done by the Institute of Cancer Research, Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men because of the disparities in the accessibility of care.

Further research confirms this. “Persistent disparities in treatment for AA and emerging disparities in Hispanic men, regardless of stage at presentation, likely represent a significant predictor of higher mortality in underserved populations,” Kelvin A. Moses, MD, PhD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and colleagues concluded in Urology. Dr. Moses also serves on the board of ZERO Prostate Cancer.

“So, if one in eight men overall are affected by prostate cancer, for Black men, it is one in six. There is also a higher rate of disparity for veterans, those in the military, and rural areas,” Bragg says.

“All of those are high-risk communities. And we need to be mindful that they are accessing care and are having conversations with their healthcare providers about PSA testing starting at age 40.”

How Prostate Exam Testing Has Changed

Bragg wants to remind men that prostate exams have evolved from intrusive physical exams to blood tests, which are done to establish the baseline levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood and the frequency at which the testing needs to be repeated.

If prostate cancer is caught early, Bragg points out that there is a high survival rate. “Even if you ‘re diagnosed at an advanced stage, there are still therapies and modalities that can help you; it isn’t an immediate death sentence,” he explains.

Symptoms That Need to Be Checked Out

While prostate cancer can go mostly undetected without a PSA test, some symptoms should send you to the doctor for immediate overall testing, Bragg points out:

• Difficulty urinating
• Urinating often, especially at night
• Burning or pain during urination
• Blood or pain during urination

These symptoms could point to potential problems with your prostate. It is better to err on the side of caution than to self-treat and find out you have an advanced case later.

If You Have Been Diagnosed, There is Hope

If you are a Black man diagnosed with prostate cancer, organizations like ZERO Prostate Cancer have resources available that help you navigate everything from diagnosis to treatment choices to finding peer support and caregiver support.

Black Health Matters Resources

For additional information on prostate cancer prevention and treatment, check out these articles and videos from Black Health Matters:

50 Questions To Ask Your Doctor if Your Family Has a History of Prostate Cancer

What to Do After a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Additional Resources

Prostate Cancer Statistics

Institute of Cancer Research Study

Racial Disparities in Prostate Health

The post Former President Biden’s Prostate Cancer: Black Men Pay Attention appeared first on Black Health Matters.

When Wade got to his doctor’s appointment, he was very transparent. He shared his symptoms with his HCP, including some things he had been feeling. “Sometimes, when I would go to the bathroom, my urine would come out a little slow; it would take a little more time. Sometimes I would have some cramps, some pain a little at times,  in my stomach,” he explained. Wade wanted to understand what was going on with his body.

Wade hadn’t kept with regular medical exams since retiring from the NBA in 2019. He was fortunate that his father’s diagnosis propelled him into action.

There is no telling when he may have gone in for a check-up. It had been four years already. Imagine if he had waited longer; most Black men do.

When Wade got a call from his doctor that there was something concerning about his kidney, “Immediately, they tried to say, we don’t if it is cancerous, but there is something on there, and you are a young man we want to make sure that you can live this healthy lifestyle,” Wade said.

Wade talked, doing his due diligence. He got a second opinion, then a third. But he realized that he had to have surgery to confirm whether he did indeed have cancer.

The operation in December 2023 led to the removal of 40% of Wade’s kidney.

In her appearance last month on Jenna & Friends, Wade’s wife, Gabrielle Union, explained that he was “a little more hesitant” at the time to bring his family along on his “journey of healing” from the cancer.

“That level of vulnerability, to go through removal of a good chunk of his kidney and the healing that involved, he needed us to be OK with his vulnerability. But more than that, he needed to be OK with his vulnerability,” she said. “It was a challenge to give grace and receive it.”

Wade discussed having to shed his personas of being the “strong” one,” the hall of famer.” “I’m a very prideful man. I was most afraid of being that vulnerable in front of my wife,” he confessed.

Now cancer-free, Wade makes sure he and his family talk about their genetic health history so that their children aren’t left guessing about what diseases may impact them in the future. Knowledge is power.

 

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To learn more about kidney cancer treatment diagnosis and treatment options, go to kidneycancer.org.

The post Dwyane Wade Talks About His Kidney Cancer Journey appeared first on Black Health Matters.

On His Health

While we admire Hudson’s sculpted physique, he does not spend every day in the gym. He has always been mindful of what he eats. “There never been a period when my weight has been out of control; I’ve always been conscious enough to rein it in before it got too far out of control,” he says.” Also, being an actor always made me aware of the image I wanted to maintain.”

But Black men, for example, are taught to be strong and brave. “We don’t need certain things; we can brave them on our own, which is very foolish,” Hudson says. “Things are going on with our bodies that we’re unaware of.

For example, I had prostate cancer diagnosed back in 1998. There are no signs. You feel pretty good until it happens. And if you don’t take care of it, you can die from it. For me, you have to be vigilant.”

Hudson pointed out that yearly checkups are essential. “It’s nice to have people in our lives to remind us to take care of ourselves,” he says. “Some people are afraid they will get news they don’t want to know; I want to know something is happening.”

 The Rated RSV Campaign

Most of us associate Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with babies and young children, but seniors are also a vulnerable population. “When Pfizer came to me and asked me to be part of this campaign and get the word out on RSV, I was very excited. Because one of the things I’ve become aware of is friends my age have not taken care of themselves,” Hudson notes.

“And I want to let people know that this is something most of us hadn’t heard of, that it’s out there, and we have to do what’s necessary to take care of ourselves.”

Senior citizens, 75 and older, are being impacted by it, but those 60 and older with chronic conditions like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and COPD should also consider being vaccinated.

“The CDC says  from 60,000 to 160,000 people might end up in the hospital because of this,” he says. “That was alarming and I wanted to get the word out along with getting a yearly checkup and taking care of yourself.”

Sixty Years of Work

Ernie Hudson has been acting for six decades. The first film he was in, “Leadbelly,” was directed by the legendary Gordon Parks. His list of credits includes, of course, “Ghostbusters” but also cultural groundbreaking series like “Oz” and current BET+ hit Carl Webber’s “The Family Business,” which has been running for five seasons.

“When I am onstage with another actor, bring your best. I’m going to bring my best,” Hudson says. “We’re going to have some fun. And if we have fun, the audience is going to have fun. But I’m not worried about them. Let’s dance.”

What Brings Him Joy

At 78, Ernie Hudson is letting go of life’s urgencies surrounding him. “Joy is knowing it is a beautiful day. I can sit in the sun, soak it in, and smile, and somebody will smile back at me,” he says. I am still on the plane of existence and can appreciate and give thanks for things around me. I can have a meal spread before me and take a bite. And that’s enough for me—to know that I am.”

For information on RSV and to schedule a vaccination, go to VaxAssist.com.

The post Ernie Hudson On Work, Health, & Preventing RSV appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Georgia Dunston, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Founding Director of the National Human Genome Center at Howard University

A pioneer among Black genetic researchers, Dr. Georgia Dunston, received her doctorate in human genetics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in the 1970s. While doing a post-doctorate research assignment, she collaborated with a noted scientist from the Human Genome Project on a study that examined how Type 2 diabetes manifested in West Africans compared to patients in Finland. Dunston also sought to understand what made people different and focused on populations from Africa because of the vast genetic variations. What fueled her research was to better understand the challenges African Americans face with organ transplants, diabetes, asthma, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. She helped bring national and international research collaborations that examined the diseases impacting us to Howard University.

Rick Kittles, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Research, Morehouse School of Medicine

Dr. Rick Kittles is a biologist, geneticist, and health equity expert. He directed the African American Hereditary Prostate Cancer Study Network at Howard University’s National Human Genome Center. He also held positions at Ohio State University and the University of Illinois, Chicago. At the City of Hope in Duarte, California, Kittles was the founding director of the Division of Health Equities in the Department of Population Sciences and associate director of Health Equities in the Cancer Center. He focuses his research on prostate cancer and the intersection of race, Ancestry, genetics, and health disparities. He actively advocates for Black representation and participation in clinical trials and research. Kittles is also the co-founder of African Ancestry, a DNA testing company for us by us.

Jenina Jeff, Ph.D., M.S., Staff Bioinformatics Scientist at Illumina

Dr. Janina Jeff is a self-described population geneticist. She focuses on underrepresented populations studying the human genome to develop technology that predicts and develops disease treatments. “Think of your genome like a recipe, providing the instructions to your body to carry out the necessary functions for your survival,” she explains. “It can also describe some of the traits you were born with that make you uniquely you!” She notes that population geneticists combine their knowledge of genetics with computer science to create tools, like genotyping, that sort through genetic recipes faster. Jeff uses technology to predict and develop potential disease treatments in underrepresented communities. She also makes genetics more accessible as the host of In Those Genes, described as”A hip-hop-inspired podcast that uses genetics to uncover the lost identities of African-descended Americans through the lens of Black culture.”

Hadiyah-Nicole Green, Ph.D., Founder Ora Lee Cancer Foundation

Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green is one of the first Black women to earn a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is already one of our country’s leading medical physicists. She has expertise “at the intersection of nanotechnology, immunotherapy, and precision medicine.” She has already developed a groundbreaking treatment that uses nanotechnology and lasers to kill cancer in mice in 15 days. She founded the Ora Lee Cancer Foundation, a 501c3 organization so that she could raise funds to begin human trials to test her discovery and make the treatment affordable.

The post 4 Black Scientists Using Genetics and Technology to Improve Our Future Health Outcomes appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The American Cancer Society says prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control. The prostate is a gland found only in males. It makes some of the fluid that is part of semen. When the cancer has not spread outside of the prostate, it is localized. When it has spread to lymph nodes and surrounding areas, it is categorized as regional, and if it has reached the lungs, bones, or liver, it is a distant stage.

It is the second leading cause of death among American men. However, African American men and Caribbean men of African descent have higher risks. Men in our community are 1.7 more likely to develop prostate cancer and also 2.1 times more likely to die from it. And like many other cancers that impact us, there is a higher chance that they might be diagnosed with an advanced stage of the disease.

Dexter King received his diagnosis at a younger age than most men. 60% of men are diagnosed at 65 or older. Even when Black men are diagnosed early, however, they may not receive treatment, a recent study reported. Researchers analyzed more than 300,000 patients with localized prostate cancer and found that Black men were 27% less likely to receive treatment (radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy, or cryotherapy) than white patients.

It is imperative that we encourage the men in our lives to get screened for prostate cancer annually. The Prostate-Specific Antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by normal and malignant prostate gland cells. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood, and the level will be elevated in men with prostate cancer.

While the screening age is 50, Black men should begin getting screened at 45, especially if they have a father or brother who was diagnosed with the disease before age 65. If he has had more than one first-degree relative diagnosed, then screening should begin at 40.

Possible symptoms of prostate cancer include:

• Blood in the urine or semen.
• Back pain, pelvis pain, or hip pain.
• Difficulty getting or keeping an erection.
• Unexplained weight loss.

For more information on prostate cancer risks, diagnosis, and treatment, check out the following:

Prostate Cancer in the Black Community

50 Questions to Ask Your Doctor If You Have a Family Has History of Prostate Cancer

As we mourn the loss of Dexter Scott King, let’s also take this as an opportunity to encourage Black men to take their health seriously.

The post Dexter Scott King Died of Prostate Cancer (Why it Disproportionately Impacts Black Men) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Having a first-degree relative with prostate cancer can increase a man’s risk of developing the disease himself. These are some of the questions you can ask your doctor if your family has a history of prostate cancer, depending on the stage you are in as it relates to the disease.

Questions to Ask About Prostate Cancer Risk and Screening

1. What type of prostate cancer screening schedule do you recommend for me, based on my individual medical profile and family history?

2. What are the risks and benefits of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test?

3. Are there any changes I can make to my diet that can help lower my risk of prostate cancer?

Questions to Ask After Getting a Diagnosis

4. What type of prostate cancer do I have?

5. How aggressive is the cancer?

6. Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?

7. What stage is the prostate cancer? What does this mean?

8. What is the Gleason score of the prostate cancer? What does this mean?

Questions to Ask About Choosing a Treatment and Managing Side Effects

9. How much experience do you have treating this type of cancer?

10. What are my treatment options?

11. What clinical trials are available for me? Where are they located, and how do I find out more about them?

12. Does this prostate cancer need to be treated? What would happen if I choose not to start treatment now?

13. What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?

14. What is the goal of each treatment? Is it to eliminate the cancer, help me feel better, or both?

15. What are the possible side effects of each treatment, both in the short term and the long term?

16. How will treatment affect my emotional well-being?

17. Who will be part of my healthcare team, and what does each member do?

18. Who will be leading my overall treatment?

19. How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?

20. Will I have difficulty controlling my bladder or bowel function after treatment?

21. Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?

22. Could this treatment affect my ability to have children? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins? Should I consider sperm banking?

23. If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?

24. What support services are available to me? To my family?

25. If I have questions or problems, who should I call?

Questions to Ask About Having Surgery

26. What type of surgery will I have? Will lymph nodes be removed?

27. How long will the operation take?

28. How long will I be in the hospital?

29. Can you describe what my recovery from surgery will be like?

30. Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

31. What are the possible long-term effects of having this surgery?

Questions to Ask About Having Radiation Therapy

32. What type of treatment is recommended?

33. Where will the radiation be focused?

34. What is the goal of this treatment?

35. How long will it take to give this treatment?

36. What side effects can I expect during treatment?

37. Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

38. What are the possible long-term or late effects of having this treatment?

39. What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to Ask About Having Hormonal Therapy

40. What type of hormonal therapy do you recommend?

41. What is the goal of this treatment?

42. Will I receive this treatment at a hospital or clinic? Or will I take it at home?

43. How long will I need to continue this treatment?

44. What side effects can I expect during treatment?

45. Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

46. What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to Ask About Planning Follow-Up Care

47. What is the chance that the cancer will come back? Should I watch for specific signs or symptoms?

48. What long-term side effects or late effects are possible based on the cancer treatment I received?

49. What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will those tests be needed?

50. How do I get a treatment summary and survivorship care plan to keep in my personal records?

In addition to these questions, consider asking your doctor about recovery time if you plan to work or resume your usual activities. If you have concerns about fertility or impotence, inquire about those topics as well.

Remember that doctors aren’t the only ones who can provide information. Other healthcare professionals, such as nurses and social workers, can also help answer your questions. Open and honest discussions with your cancer care team are crucial to making informed decisions about your health. Your family history of prostate cancer may increase your risk, but proactive measures and knowledge can help you navigate this journey.

The post 50 Questions To Ask Your Doctor if Your Family Has a History of Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

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To help men, especially African American men, prioritize their well-being, Black Health Matters present the Men’s Health Checklist. While it is important for each individual to be cognizant of their family history and personal issues, this comprehensive guide outlines the essential screenings and exams that men should consider at different stages of life, ensuring proactive health management and an improved quality of life.

In Your 20s:

• Annual Physical Exam: Make it a habit to schedule an annual check-up with your primary care physician. This will allow them to assess your overall health, review your family medical history, and establish a baseline for future comparisons.
• Sexual Health: If you’re sexually active, it’s important to get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) annually or more frequently based on your sexual behavior. Openly discuss safe sex practices and any concerns you may have with your doctor.
• Skin Check: Regularly examine your skin for any new or changing moles and other skin abnormalities. If you notice any concerning changes, seek the advice of a dermatologist.

In Your 30s:

• Blood Pressure: African American men, in particular, have a higher risk of hypertension. Have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years. If you have a family history of hypertension or other risk factors, consider more frequent monitoring to stay ahead of any potential issues.
• Cholesterol Levels: Starting at age 35, it’s advisable to have your cholesterol levels checked every five years. African American men tend to have higher cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease. If you have risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, or smoking, consult your doctor for earlier and more regular screenings.
• Testicular Examination: Perform monthly self-examinations to detect any lumps or abnormalities in the testicles. If you notice anything unusual, consult a healthcare professional.

In Your 40s:

• Prostate Health: African American men have a higher risk of prostate cancer and tend to develop it at a younger age. Engage in a discussion with your doctor about prostate cancer screening, usually through a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Consider starting discussions earlier, around age 45, to stay proactive in your health management.
• Diabetes Screening: African American men are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Consider getting screened for diabetes every three years, especially if you have risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, or a sedentary lifestyle.
• Colon Cancer Screening: Beginning at age 45, African American men should have a conversation with their doctor about the various screening options available for colon cancer, including colonoscopy or stool tests. Regular screenings can help detect early signs of colorectal cancer.

In Your 50s and Beyond:

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening: If you’re between the ages of 65 and 75 and have ever smoked or have a family history of AAA, including African American men, it’s important to consider a one-time ultrasound screening to assess the health of the abdominal aorta.
• Bone Density Test: African American men are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures. Discuss a bone density test with your doctor, particularly if you have risk factors. This discussion is especially crucial for men aged 65 and older.
• Eye Exam: African American men are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma and other vision-related issues. As you age, regular eye exams become essential. Schedule comprehensive eye exams at least every two years or as recommended by your ophthalmologist.

Taking proactive steps toward maintaining good health is of utmost importance for men of all ages, especially African American men. The Men’s Health Checklist serves as a valuable reminder, outlining crucial check-ups at various stages of life.

By prioritizing regular screenings and exams alongside adopting a healthy lifestyle, you can identify potential health issues early on and significantly contribute to a healthier and happier life. Remember, investing in your health today will pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.

The post Prioritizing Men’s Health: An Essential Checklist for Every Age appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Health Issues Affecting Black Americans

While people self-identifying as any race are susceptible to many health conditions, the Black population is especially vulnerable to several. From a lack of educational attainment to living in poorer neighborhoods to higher rates of unemployment and being uninsured, the Black community is fighting for racial equality in healthcare. Men’s Health Month stresses the importance of the struggle that many men face when seeking care for these conditions and more.

Cardiovascular Disease

Heart disease is a term used to describe a number of conditions related to the heart, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia, and more. Although Black women are disproportionately affected by heart disease as compared to Black men, African Americans are much more susceptible to it than White people. The Office of Minority Health reports that both African American and non-Hispanic White people were diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease in similar numbers, but that Black people were less likely to have their hypertension controlled and more likely to die from heart disease.

Mental Health Concerns

Many Blacks live in low-income neighborhoods and are below the poverty line themselves, placing them at higher risk for psychological distress. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the rates of serious mental illness rose among African Americans between 2008 and 2018. As an example, while depression and major depressive episodes have decreased overall across the country and all races, they have increased sharply among all age groups of Black Americans. Black teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide but, as a race, African Americans are less likely to die by suicide compared to those of other ethnic background.

Prostate Cancer

Black Americans are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than White men and other people of color. Part of the problem is that their cancer is detected later when it is more advanced and there are fewer treatment options available. Awareness and early detection has improved survival rates for all races, including African American patients. Today, when caught early, prostate cancer has a 99% 5-year survival rate. More needs to be done to raise awareness of prostate cancer and its disproportionate effects on the black population. However, there have already been great strides made with concerted efforts on behalf of government agencies, local community organizations, and healthcare providers.

Diabetes

Diabetes affects your body’s use of insulin, either by changing how much of it is produced or how well it responds to it. It often leads to other serious health conditions like heart disease and kidney disease. Diabetes also affects the Black population more than non-Hispanic Whites and every other race. The Office of Minority Health reports that African American adults are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, with Black men more likely to die from it. In recent years, it’s been found that Black people were more than 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized with complications from the disease and twice as likely to succumb to it than White people.

Kidney Disease

The National Institutes of Health has insight into why Black people are more likely to suffer from kidney disease than any other race. American Indians and Alaskan Natives are 1.2 times and Hispanics are 1.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with kidney failure. By comparison, Black Americans are four times as likely to suffer from it. The two most common causes of kidney failure are hypertension and diabetes, which are also prevalent in African American communities for a variety of reasons, including the lack of preventative care, lifestyle choices, and limited access to healthy foods.

Living a Healthier Life

The School of Public Health and Indiana University has offered a list of ways that all men, regardless of race, can improve their overall health, reduce their risk of chronic illness, and feel better each day. Remember that men’s health is important all year and not just in June when we recognize Men’s Health Month. If you have any existing health conditions or questions about implementing the suggestions below, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider.

• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Your ideal weight is typically measured by body mass index (BMI). You can use a BMI calculator to help you determine the ideal weight for your height. It will not include body type or other factors, so your doctor may give you a different target weight.
• Eat a Healthy Diet: It’s important to consider the types of foods you eat and the size of your portions. While there are many trendy diets out there, the best bet is to learn more about the foods you eat, like protein, carbohydrate, and fat content.
• Take a Multivitamin Supplement: Multivitamins are a great way to ensure you get plenty of the nutrients your diet may be lacking.
• Stay Hydrated: You should aim to drink 0.5 ounces of water per one pound of body weight. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you should drink approximately 100 ounces of water each day.
• Exercise Regularly: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends 150 minutes of physical activity each week. You can break this down into shorter workout sessions throughout the week that fit better into your schedule. If needed, start small and work your way up.
• Reduce Screen Time: Sitting down too much increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. If you must work at a computer most of the day, be sure to take frequent breaks. Getting up to walk or stretch can help you feel better throughout the day as well.
• Get Enough Sleep: The amount of sleep you need changes as you get older. The important thing is that you feel rested when you wake up. Good sleep is linked to improved mood, brain performance, and overall health.
• Limit Alcohol Intake: Alcohol should be consumed in moderation and safely. Long-term alcohol use is linked with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer. It may also lead to risky sexual relations, motor vehicle crashes, and violence.
• Manage Mental Health: There are many ways you can support your mental health, from self-care to practicing gratitude to regular meditation. By putting yourself first you are better able to support those around you.
• Keep Yourself Accountable: Whether you turn to a support group, your family and friends, or use an app, keeping yourself in line with your health goals is important.

How to Raise Awareness for Men’s Health Month

It’s easy to help raise awareness for Men’s Health Month this June and there are plenty of ways to do it too. Be sure to involve women and families if appropriate, as they are some of your biggest advocates and want you to stay healthy as well. While Black people may be disproportionately affected by some health conditions and struggle with the healthcare system for various reasons, Men’s Health Month is the ideal time to help create balance. Here’s how you can help:

• Wear Blue Day: In 2023, Wear Blue Day is celebrated on June 16th. The goal is to help raise awareness for men’s health, which will ultimately lead to longer, healthier lives.
• Share Your Support: Do you know someone who is struggling with their mental health, heart disease, or other condition? Many Black people suffer in silence. Take this opportunity to reach out and encourage them.
• Create an Awareness Campaign: There are many ways you can raise awareness through a campaign. Ask the HR department at work to set up an event, send out flyers within your local community, or write a letter to the editor at your newspaper.
• Join a Fundraiser: Is there a fundraiser happening nearby? Join that 5K walk, request sponsorship in the next food drive, or simply announce that you’ve made a donation to an organization and ask others to do the same.
• Start a Healthy Living Group: Do you know plenty of men who would benefit from going for regular walks, staying accountable on a healthy diet, or losing weight? Why not band together to make it happen?
• Organize a Health Fair: You can work with a local health clinic to advertise preventative screenings for prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions. Reach out to a few and see if they are interested in raising awareness for Men’s Health Month.
• Plan a Sports Day: Have your friends, family, and local communities come together for a sports day. Pay a small fee to play and send the proceeds to an organization who can use the funds to support men’s health.

Men’s Health And The Black Population: Raising Awareness

Black Health Matters stands with you in our efforts to raise awareness for men’s health. We encourage you to support those you love with health conditions such as heart disease or mental health diagnoses, share your own stories of hope and survival, and collaborate with peers this June to raise awareness for Men’s Health Month.

The post What Men’s Health Month Means For African Americans appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

The signs of prostate cancer are relatively easy to notice, especially as the disease progresses, and many are urinary symptoms. However, once these symptoms arise, the prostate gland cancer may have already progressed. This is why early detection is key. Because Black people have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, they should be vigilant about following up on any of the symptoms below.

• Frequent or painful urination
• Weak urine stream
• Urinary incontinence
• Blood in semen or urine
• Painful ejaculation
• Decrease in the amount of ejaculate
• Erectile dysfunction
• Pain in the back, hips, or thighs
• Unintentional weight loss
• Decline in overall health

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors

The three most significant risk factors for prostate cancer are age, family history, and race. Researchers have found that Black people have a much higher chance of developing prostate cancer than other races. However, there are additional risk factors that may determine whether your prostate cancer is slow-growing versus aggressive and more likely to metastasize, or spread to other organs once prostate cancer starts. These risk factors include:

• A sedentary lifestyle
• High calcium intake
• Poor diet
• Being tall
• Close family history
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
• Prostatitis (prostate infection)
• Agent Orange exposure

Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths about risk factors for prostate cancer, including vasectomy, increased sexual activity, alcohol intake, and taking certain supplements like Vitamin E. If you are concerned about high risk for prostate cancer, discuss it with your health care provider and the possibility of early detection screening.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

There are many treatment options available to those with prostate cancer. Once prostate cells have changed, a prostate biopsy can help determine the Gleason Score and the TNM Score. These, together, help determine the stage and likelihood of the abnormal cells spreading. They also help your health care team create a personalized treatment plan that will be most effective against the abnormal cells.

Possible Prostate Cancer Treatment Options:

• Active Surveillance: Also called “watch and wait,” it is recommended for low-grade cancers with little likelihood of spreading. Doctors may not recommend it for Black people.
• Radical Prostatectomy: Removing the prostate may also remove the cancer and prevent it from spreading if it is has not spread but may be aggressive.
• Radiation Therapy: Radiation can be performed externally or internally, depending on what may be best to treat your specific type and stage of prostate cancer.
• Freezing or Heating: Cryotherapy (freezing) or high intensity focused ultrasound (heating) is an option for small, localized cancers that are caught early.
• Hormone Therapy: Hormone therapies keep your body from producing testosterone or keep it from reaching the abnormal cells. These treatment options are used along with others. This includes androgen deprivation therapy.
• Chemotherapy: This is a very typical cancer treatment used for many cancers that have spread to other regions throughout the body.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy can change and support your body’s immune system, helping it to fight the cancer on its own.
• Targeted Drug Therapy: These therapies target your specific type of cancer cells with medications designed for them and are most effective at treating recurrent prostate cancer.

Screening Options and Diagnosis

There is no routine test for prostate cancer screening. However, there are several methods for screening that your healthcare provider may suggest based on your age and potential risk factors. Providers should consider early screening for the Black population as, most times, prostate cancer starts earlier and more aggressive than those in other ethnic groups.

• Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): Also called a physical exam, your provider performs this in the clinic.
• Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: Your provider may offer a less invasive lab test to detect any potential health concerns related to the prostate. It’s important to note that it could be prostate cancer or something benign like an infection or benign prostatic hyperplasia, a noncancerous but enlarged prostate.
• PCA3 RNA: Genetic tests may rule out or confirm prostate cancer prior to scheduling a biopsy on a suspected tumor.

If results are positive or inconclusive, a prostate biopsy will be done to confirm prostate cancer. Other tests could include transrectal ultrasound or MRI done alone or with a biopsy to locate a potential tumor. The biopsy tissue is then tested to determine the stage of the disease and the Gleason Score, which helps providers predict how likely the cancer is to spread.

Prostate Cancer and African Americans

It’s important to understand that prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men. While it is quite common, the survival rates are mostly positive when caught in the early stages, even for African American men. Government agencies, the health care community, and the Black community should address the fact that, according to the statistics, Black people are still at much higher risk than other races.

The Statistics

Fewer men are dying from prostate cancer according to a literature review by the American Cancer Society Journal. The 2022 publication considered numbers from 2012 to 2016. During these years, the death rates for Black men reduced significantly from 81.9 to 39.8 deaths per 100,000 patients. For White men, the death rates declined from 37 to 19 over the same period. The gap is narrowing but still not enough, as the number of Black men dying from prostate cancer is still double that of non-Hispanic White men.

A 2020 study published via JAMA looked closely at active surveillance, also called “watching and waiting,” that is often prescribed for prostate cancer patients. This is because many diagnoses rarely progress to a life-threatening, advanced stage of the disease. A regular blood test can help determine if the cancer is worsening. However, a 2020 study has determined that more African American men experienced disease progression leading to advanced-stage prostate cancer treatment with this method. Nearly 60% of those choosing active surveillance required treatment for disease progression versus just over 40% for White people.

Tumor Variations and Cancer Advancement

The National Cancer Institute has found that, while the rates of death were similar for both Black and White males for more advanced disease, the Black population had much higher rates for low-grade prostate cancer. Scientists are still working to uncover the reasons for this. However, researchers have suggested differences in the tumors themselves. Studies of tumor genomics comparing prostate cancers of both Black and non-Hispanic White men show that those in the Black population are more likely to be aggressive, metastasizing to nearby tissue or progressing to advanced stage cancer much sooner. Another suggested cause for higher risk of death could be tumor location. Tumors in the anterior region are harder to detect and biopsy.

Barriers to Care

A Black person faces many barriers to care regardless of gender or potential diagnosis. For men, that includes prostate cancers.

Delayed Cancer Screenings

One of the most significant hurdles to quality care that much of the Black population faces in diagnosing any chronic health condition is communication with their providers. There are fewer Black providers and a smaller number that are aware of conditions that disproportionately affect the Black population. If a health care provider doesn’t understand the way prostate cancer can affect a Black patient, they may not suggest early detection screening.

Less Access to Treatment Options

Dr. Abdollah of Henry Ford Health in Michigan suggests several reasons the Black population is at risk for reduced access to proper medical care. The first and most significant cause is bias, both in the health care community and from the Black community. Closely related to bias is stigma. We often see prostate cancers in a different light than others, especially for Black men, mainly because of the sexual health component. Some patients delay care long after symptoms start even if they are aware of them because of this stigma. Unfortunately, much of the Black population is not aware of prostate cancer symptoms or risk factors, so they may not reach out to a health care provider for early detection.

Other factors affecting reduced access to care, according to Dr. Abdollah, include a lack of access to quality health centers, mistrust in the health care system due to past experiences, not having proper health insurance, and fewer early detection cancer screenings.

Fewer Health Education Resources

Education about prostate cancer typically comes from primary health care providers who are the first point of contact for most Black patients. A lack of culturally aware providers can lead to miscommunication about resources, such as prostate cancer screening. Once a patient receives a diagnosis, education about prostate cancer and community resources can be limited if a provider is unaware of those available. Treatment resources could be available, but with no access to them simply because a patient doesn’t know they exist.

Black Men and Clinical Trials

Also covered in the American Cancer Society Journal literature review are the statistics for clinical trial participation. While the Black population is considerably more affected by prostate cancer, the vast majority of those taking part in studies are non-Hispanic White men. This dramatically skews the results of such studies and makes it nearly impossible to account for the underlying causes for the disparities in both causes and effective treatment options for African American men.

It seems there are many reasons for the underrepresentation of Black adults in clinical trials. The first is that low income directly affects educational attainment. This includes education about screening, treatment options, as well as available clinical trials. African Americans are also less likely to live near research hospitals conducting studies. Those that do may not understand the reasoning for them or have a mistrust of clinical trials over traditional, proven medical care.

There may also be barriers for African Americans who wish to join clinical trials. Many studies are designed in such a way to exclude certain participants. Many of these exclusions unfairly target the Black population.

In All…

Prostate cancer begins when prostate cells change into abnormal ones. While they aren’t always life-threatening, they can be much more aggressive in Black people than in other races. Therefore, it is vital that the Black population know their risk and follow up with their health care providers for early detection and screening, plus treatment if needed. Black Health Matters is helping to spread awareness of the disparities that Black people face, increasing education, screenings, and treatment options available for all.

The post Prostate Cancer’s Impact On African Americans appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Silent Killer: Prostate Cancer in the African American Community explores the myths, fears, and concerns about the disease. It follows several men who are all battling prostate cancer, focusing on how they’re dealing with their diagnoses, what treatment they decided to pursue, and how the disease has affected their lives.

Since its release in 2017, the documentary has been screened throughout the U.S., with educational materials available and even prostate cancer testing on site for attendees. There have been Q&A sessions as well where men who said they had been reluctant to attend the screening were later grateful for all the useful information.

“It makes me feel good that our film really is educating men, that we’re reaching men, that we’re sparking conversation because that’s what this is really about,” says Landi Maduro, the film’s director.

“When we screened the film at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, TX, Harris County Health Systems administered PSA tests for over 200 men and 22 of them came back with high PSA levels. And, Harris County agreed to treat these men for free.”

The film even touched Maduro personally when about six months into the making of the film, her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer himself. She credits the knowledge and research she gained while creating the film for helping her father choose his treatment.

Ricco Ross, one of The Silent Killer producers who is also featured in the film, says his passion for raising awareness about prostate cancer continued to grow once the cameras stopped rolling. It’s clear there’s only one answer when he asks, “can a movie save a life?”

Get more information about The Silent Killer and any upcoming screenings here.

Sponsored by Lilly.

The post Documentary Aims to Spread Awareness of Prostate Cancer to Black Men appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Check Out Chef Lovely’s Hot Girl Summer Wellness Shot Recipe Below:

@cheflovely

Summertime Fine #health #wellness #HotGirlSummer #LoveYouLetsEat

♬ Move Your Body (Future House) – Tchami & Marshall Jefferson

Super simple, right? And if you don’t have a juicer, then a powerful blender with a touch of water works just fine. Once blended, you’ll need a strainer or cheesecloth to strain the liquid.

Why Wellness Shots Are Good For Us

Wellness shots are the perfect way to start your mornings for our immunity. They are a quick and easy way to deliver antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. For instance, there are so many benefits for one of the ingredients – ruby red grapefruit. Grapefruits reduce lipid levels, reduce the risk of prostate cancer, and are low in calories. Another powerful ingredient Chef Lovely uses are ginger. Ginger keeps your mouth healthy, calms nausea, eases arthritis pain, and so much more.

You can prepare your wellness shots in a large batch the night before or days in advance. They can last in your refrigerator for up to a week, or you can freeze them. In addition, most wellness shots can be consumed daily and sometimes multiple times a day. However, the recommendation is to take it once daily and monitor how you feel after adding them to your diet.

What is your favorite wellness shot recipe? Comment below!

The post Chef Lovely Is Keeping Us Summertime Fine With Hot Girl Summer Wellness Shot appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Prostate cancer is marked by an uncontrolled, malignant growth of cells in the prostate gland. It’s the most common type of cancer found in men in the U.S., aside from skin cancer, and often begins without symptoms. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime.

Black men are at an increased risk for developing prostate cancer over White men and other men of color. Overall, Black men are 1.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with—and 2.2 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than White men.

While there is no clear reason for these differences, several factors can impact cancer risk and outcomes in the Black community. These include age, family history, smoking, limited physical activity, and obesity, says Vincent Laudone, a urologist and Chief of Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “The higher risk may be related to social and environmental issues involving nutrition, access to health care, and exposure to environmental pollutants,” says Dr. Laudone.

Additionally, prostate cancer in some Black men may have biological characteristics associated with more aggressive disease. “There is evidence suggesting that this is partly related to inherited genetic factors,” says MSKCC medical oncologist Dr. Andrew Laccetti. “There may be differences in tumor biology that cause this cancer in Black men to progress faster or be harder to treat, but we need to investigate this possibility further to learn more.”

Given the higher risk of developing prostate cancer and dying from the disease, clinical outcomes for Black men may be improved by standard prostate-cancer screening. The main prostate cancer screening tests are a digital rectal exam, in which a doctor checks for swelling and lumps and a PSA test, which measures the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood.

But Black men may be harmed by racial bias in preventive care, as they are less likely than White men to be offered the option of having a PSA test, and are more likely than White men to be told that the benefits of prostate-cancer screening are uncertain, some research suggests.

Disparities in outcomes also can be affected by differences in how Black men are treated after diagnosis. One study conducted by NYU Langone Health and Perlmutter Cancer Center found that Black men most likely to benefit from advanced prostate cancer therapies are 11% less likely to get them than non-Black men.

One possible reason is that some Black men may have greater fears than others about side effects of therapy, such as the risk of incontinence and erectile dysfunction, according to the study’s researchers. These fears and underlying reasons related to their expectations of treatment should be discussed directly with patients when treatment options are being considered.

Increasing diversity in the medical field would enable Black patients to work with medical professionals who might better understand their cultural and social experiences. This would result in an improved overall patient experience truly meeting the needs of the variety of patients affected by prostate cancer.

Right now, only 2.1% of practicing urologists self-identify as Black or African American and 2.3% of practicing oncologists self-identify as Black or African American.

Despite the disparities, there are many treatment choices for Black men with prostate cancer to explore to help them make the right decision. Some treatments are standard, such as active surveillance, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. Others are being tested in clinical trials, like this one from Lilly for those with late-stage prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and still responds to certain treatments.

Ultimately, reaching a decision on prostate cancer management is a complex, collaborative process between a team of healthcare professionals and the patient. There is a lot to discuss, and treatment options will depend on many factors including the grade and stage of disease, patient preference, and fitness. Sometimes this involves clinical trials, which provide reliable and accurate data that helps inform physicians’ decisions about patient care—at no cost to the patient.

The good news is that the racial divide for prostate cancer outcomes is narrowing, particularly when Black men have the same access to care as White men. Overall, the five-year relative survival rate for Black men diagnosed with prostate cancer at any stage is 96%, which means that if a Black man is diagnosed with prostate cancer today, at any stage, there is a 96% chance he will be alive in five years.

This article has been brought to you by Lilly.

The post Prostate Cancer Risk Factors and Outcomes for Black Men appeared first on Black Health Matters.

As we count the growing number of candles on our birthday cake, we need to give our bones some extra love to protect against fractures and osteoporosis. But do you know osteoporosis fact from fiction? We help you bone up on your bone health:

Fiction: Calcium and vitamin D are the only nutrients you need for better bone health.

Fact: You do need calcium, which can be found in low-fat dairy products, dark green leafy veggies, calcium-fortified cereals and orange juice, canned salmon or sardines with bones and soy products. Men and women between the ages of 18 and 15 should get 1,000 milligrams of calcium each day; this increases to 1,200 milligrams when women hit 50 and age 70 for men.

If you’re not getting enough calcium from your diet, try taking calcium supplements. But talk to your doctor first; too much calcium has been linked to heart problems and kidney stones. The Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences recommends limiting total calcium intake, from supplements and diet combined, to no more than 2,000 milligrams daily for people older than 50.

Vitamin D is also important because it improves your body’s ability to absorb calcium. Though you can get the sunshine vitamin from the sun, if you live in high latitudes, are stuck inside or applying sunscreen, you won’t be exposed to enough of it for it to be effective. Note that if you are trying to get some of your vitamin Dfrom the sun, you should absorb only 15 minutes (or less) without sunscreen because of the risk of skin cancer. (You are using sunscreen, right?) An added downside: There are few foods with vitamin D, with catfish, salmon, eggs yolks, and fortified milk and orange juice among them. So your safer bet is a supplement.

While we don’t know the optimal daily dose of vitamin D, scientists recommend 600 international units a day for adults up to age 50 and 800 IU for those older than 50. If your blood levels of vitamin D are low, your doctor may suggest higher doses.

But calcium and vitamin D don’t do it alone when it comes to our bone health. Potassium also has protective effects against osteoporosis. This nutrient, found in beans, squash and tomatoes, counteracts the acid levels in our bodies that erode bone.

Fiction: You have to lift weights to build strong bones.

Fact: Exercise helps build strong bones and slow bone loss. Though exercise will benefit your bones no matter when you start, you’ll gain the most benefits if you start exercising regularly when you’re young and continue to exercise throughout your life. But you don’t need to compete with the bodybuilders. What you need are weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, running, stair climbing, jumping rope and skiing. Just 30 minutes of walking increases bone density.

You should combine weight-bearing exercises, which strengthen your lower body, with strength-training exercises, which help strengthen muscles and bones in your arms and upper spine.

Fiction: Osteoporosis affects only white women.

Fact: Despite what you might have been told, black folks do get osteoporosis. Though we tend to have higher bone mineral density than white women, we are still susceptible to developing osteoporosis. Thinking we’re impervious delays diagnosis and treatment. And 20 percent of people with the bone-thinning disease are men. For women osteoporosis is a function of being post-menopausal; for men it’s almost always hormonal, like a testosterone deficiency, or medication induced. Red-flag drugs include those used to treat seizures and prostate cancer, and corticosteroids, which treat everything from asthma to ulcers.

Fiction: Falls, and the fractures that can come with them, are just a normal part of aging.

Fact: Nope. With the appropriate nutrition, regular exercise and, if necessary, medication, the risk of fractures can be reduced by up to 65 percent.

The post Break-Proof Your Bones appeared first on Black Health Matters.

1. Ask questions. Your first move is to get educated. Meet with experienced health care providers. Take family or friends with you; they’re your support team and can ask questions and take notes in case you miss something. Don’t leave the doctor’s office without answers to these questions:

• How aggressive is my cancer? Prostate cancer is usually slow-growing. But some men—particularly Black men—may have more aggressive forms of the disease. Your doctor may use the Gleason score, a sum of two scores that ranges from 2 to 10, with 10 being the most aggressive, to assess this. Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer have a score of 6 or 7. Or he may use the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment score.
• Do I need additional imaging? Tests to see exactly where the cancer is in your body include magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography. You’ll want to be diagnosed somewhere that has access to these newer imaging technologies to make sure your cancer is staged accurately.
• Should I have my tumor assessed using personalized medicine? Also known as genomic profiling and genomic testing, personalized medicine enables cancer experts to custom build a strategy for your cancer treatment based on prostate tumor cells taken during a biopsy. Learning the unique characteristics of your tumor cells can help predict how your prostate cancer might respond to different treatments

2. Get a second opinion. Talk to your physician about other providers who can provide additional opinions. If your doctor hesitates, replace him. You can find other specialists through local hospitals, clinics, cancer centers, or the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 

3. Weigh your treatment options. Between 20 percent and 40 percent of prostate cancers will not progress much from where they are now, or they’ll grow very slowly. For older men, those whose cancer hasn’t spread and with a low Gleason score, active surveillance instead of immediate treatment is the preferred therapy. But don’t think of active surveillance as doing nothing. For active surveillance to be done correctly, you’ll need a lot of follow-up.

If you’re not a good candidate for active surveillance, ask:

• What are my other treatment options?
• If I am treated, what can I expect regarding side effects, survival, and a cure?
• How much experience do you have with these treatments?
• How have other men like me fared with the outcomes discussed?

4. Find a compatible doctor. You should like, trust, and feel comfortable with your urologist, as you’ll spend a lot of time with him or her.

5. Make healthy lifestyle changes. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight management will help keep you healthy while receiving treatment. Load up on a variety of vegetables, including cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage) and cooked tomatoes, which some studies suggest might reduce your risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. Avoid processed meat. Opt for healthier protein sources containing omega-3 fatty acids, including salmon and other fish. Focus on good fats like the kind found in nuts and olive oil. Get calcium from low-fat sources like skim milk, spinach, and whole-grain cereals. In addition to what you feed your body, shoot for vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes when you’re up to it. Don’t smoke.

6. Stay positive. New diagnostic tools and treatments are being discovered constantly. Work with your doctor to monitor your condition and determine the right treatment plan for you.

The post What to Do After a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men (second to lung cancer). And, yes, black men tend to be diagnosed with and to die from prostate cancer at higher rates than their white counterparts. Compounding this is the fact that the medical community seems to be confused about whether or not widespread PSA screening is necessary. (A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that in spite of this debate, four out of five doctors routinely talk about prostate cancer screening with their patients.)
But there is good news about this disease. While no one will tell you a prostate cancer diagnosis is no big deal, it is survivable.
In a small study published in the Journal of Urology, men with early prostate cancer who followed a strict vegetarian diet, practiced stress reduction techniques and exercised on a regular basis were able to lower their risk of cancer progression. The very low-fat diet (in which fat made up 10 percent or less of daily calories) was followed by study participants who chose “watchful waiting” instead of active treatment for their cancer. At the end of the one-year study, PSA levels decreased 4 percent and prostate cancer cell growth was inhibited by 70 percent.
A prostate cancer diagnosis usually doesn’t mean a shorter lifespan. A study from the Journal of Clinical Oncology found overall five- and 10-year survival rates for men diagnosed with this cancer to be 99 percent and 95 percent, respectively. When compared with men in the general population, those with prostate cancer had excess mortality of 1 percent at five years and 5 percent at 10 years.

The post The Good News About Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Urinary incontinence—the loss of bladder control—is a common and often embarrassing problem. The severity of urinary incontinence ranges from occasionally leaking urine when you cough or sneeze to having an urge to urinate that’s so sudden and strong you don’t get to a toilet in time.

If urinary incontinence affects your day-to-day activities, don’t hesitate to see your doctor. In most cases, simple lifestyle changes or medical treatment can ease your discomfort or stop urinary incontinence.

Symptoms

Urinary incontinence is the inability to control the release of urine from your bladder. Some people experience occasional, minor leaks—or dribbles—of urine. Others wet their clothes frequently.

Types of urinary incontinence include:

Stress incontinence. This is loss of urine when you exert pressure—stress—on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy. Stress incontinence occurs when the sphincter muscle of the bladder is weakened. In women, physical changes resulting from pregnancy, childbirth and menopause can cause stress incontinence. In men, removal of the prostate gland can lead to stress incontinence.

Urge incontinence. This is a sudden, intense urge to urinate, followed by an involuntary loss of urine. Your bladder muscle contracts and may give you a warning of only a few seconds to a minute to reach a toilet. With urge incontinence, you may need to urinate often, including throughout the night. Urge incontinence may be caused by urinary tract infections, bladder irritants, bowel problems, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, injury or nervous system damage associated with multiple sclerosis. If there’s no known cause, urge incontinence is also called overactive bladder.

Overflow incontinence. If you frequently or constantly dribble urine, you may have overflow incontinence, which is an inability to empty your bladder. Sometimes you may feel as if you never completely empty your bladder. When you try to urinate, you may produce only a weak stream of urine. This type of incontinence may occur in people with a damaged bladder, blocked urethra or nerve damage from diabetes, multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. In men, overflow incontinence can also be associated with prostate gland problems.

Mixed incontinence. If you experience symptoms of more than one type of urinary incontinence, such as stress incontinence and urge incontinence, you have mixed incontinence.

Functional incontinence. Many older adults, especially people in nursing homes, experience incontinence simply because a physical or mental impairment keeps them from making it to the toilet in time. For example, a person with severe arthritis may not be able to unbutton his or her pants quickly enough. This is called functional incontinence.

Total incontinence. This term is sometimes used to describe continuous leaking of urine, day and night or the periodic uncontrollable leaking of large volumes of urine.

When to see a doctor

You may feel uncomfortable discussing incontinence with your doctor. But if incontinence is frequent or is affecting your quality of life, seeking medical advice is important for several reasons:

Urinary incontinence may indicate a more serious underlying condition, especially if it’s associated with blood in your urine.
Urinary incontinence may be causing you to restrict your activities and limit your social interactions to avoid embarrassment. Urinary incontinence may increase the risk of falls in older adults as they rush to make it to the toilet.

Causes

Urinary incontinence isn’t a disease, it’s a symptom. It can be caused by everyday habits, underlying medical conditions or physical problems. A thorough evaluation by your doctor can help determine what’s behind your incontinence.

Causes of temporary urinary incontinence

Certain foods, drinks and medications can cause temporary urinary incontinence. A simple change in habits can bring relief.
Alcohol. Alcohol acts as a bladder stimulant and a diuretic, which can cause an urgent need to urinate.

Overhydration. Drinking a lot of fluids, especially in a short period of time, increases the amount of urine your bladder has to deal with.

Caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic and a bladder stimulant that can cause a sudden need to urinate.

Bladder irritation. Carbonated drinks, tea and coffee—with or without caffeine—artificial sweeteners, corn syrup, and foods and beverages that are high in spice, sugar and acid, such as citrus and tomatoes, can aggravate your bladder.

Medications. Heart medications, blood pressure drugs, sedatives, muscle relaxants and other medications may contribute to bladder control problems.

Easily treatable medical conditions also may be responsible for urinary incontinence.

Urinary tract infection. Infections can irritate your bladder, causing you to have strong urges to urinate. These urges may result in episodes of incontinence, which may be your only warning sign of a urinary tract infection. Other possible signs and symptoms include a burning sensation when you urinate and foul-smelling urine.

Constipation. The rectum is located near the bladder and shares many of the same nerves. Hard, compacted stool in your rectum causes these nerves to be overactive and increase urinary frequency. In addition, compacted stool can sometimes interfere with the emptying of the bladder, which may cause overflow incontinence.

Causes of persistent urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence can also be a persistent condition caused by underlying physical problems or changes, including:

Pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnant women may experience stress incontinence because of hormonal changes and the increased weight of an enlarging uterus. In addition, the stress of a vaginal delivery can weaken muscles needed for bladder control. The changes that occur during childbirth can also damage bladder nerves and supportive tissue, leading to a dropped (prolapsed) pelvic floor. With prolapse, your bladder, uterus, rectum or small bowel can get pushed down from the usual position and protrude into your vagina. Such protrusions can be associated with incontinence.

Changes with aging. Aging of the bladder muscle leads to a decrease in the bladder’s capacity to store urine and an increase in overactive bladder symptoms. Risk of overactive bladder increases if you have blood vessel disease, so maintaining good overall health—including stopping smoking, treating high blood pressure and keeping your weight within a healthy range—can help curb symptoms of overactive bladder.After menopause women produce less estrogen, a hormone that helps keep the lining of the bladder and urethra healthy. With less estrogen, these tissues may deteriorate, which can aggravate incontinence.

Hysterectomy. In women, the bladder and uterus lie close to one another and are supported by many of the same muscles and ligaments. Any surgery that involves a woman’s reproductive system—for example, removal of the uterus (hysterectomy)—may damage the supporting pelvic floor muscles, which can lead to incontinence.
Painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis). This chronic condition causes painful and frequent urination, and rarely, urinary incontinence.

Prostatitis. Loss of bladder control isn’t a typical sign of prostatitis, which is inflammation of the prostate gland—a walnut-sized organ located just below the male bladder. Even so, urinary incontinence sometimes occurs with this common condition.

Enlarged prostate. In older men, incontinence often stems from enlargement of the prostate gland, a condition also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Prostate cancer. In men, stress incontinence or urge incontinence can be associated with untreated prostate cancer. However, more often, incontinence is a side effect of treatments—surgery or radiation—for prostate cancer.

Bladder cancer or bladder stones. Incontinence, urinary urgency and burning with urination can be signs and symptoms of bladder cancer or bladder stones. Other signs and symptoms include blood in the urine and pelvic pain.

Neurological disorders. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, a brain tumor or a spinal injury can interfere with nerve signals involved in bladder control, causing urinary incontinence.

Obstruction. A tumor anywhere along your urinary tract can block the normal flow of urine and cause incontinence, usually overflow incontinence. Urinary stones—hard, stone-like masses that can form in the bladder—may be to blame for urine leakage. Stones can be present in your kidneys, bladder or ureters.

Risk Factors

These factors increase your risk of developing urinary incontinence:

Sex. Women are more likely than men are to have stress incontinence. Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and normal female anatomy account for this difference. However, men with prostate gland problems are at increased risk of urge and overflow incontinence.

Age. As you get older, the muscles in your bladder and urethra lose some of their strength. Changes with age reduce how much your bladder can hold and increase the chances of involuntary urine release. However, getting older doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have incontinence. Incontinence isn’t normal at any age—except during infancy.

Being overweight. Being obese or overweight increases the pressure on your bladder and surrounding muscles, which weakens them and allows urine to leak out when you cough or sneeze.

Smoking. A chronic cough associated with smoking can cause episodes of incontinence or aggravate incontinence that has other causes. Constant coughing puts stress on your urinary sphincter, leading to stress incontinence. Smoking may also increase the risk of overactive bladder by causing bladder contractions.

Other diseases. Kidney disease or diabetes may increase your risk for incontinence.

Complications

Complications of chronic urinary incontinence include:

Skin problems. Urinary incontinence can lead to rashes, skin infections and sores (skin ulcers) from constantly wet skin.
Urinary tract infections. Incontinence increases your risk of repeated urinary tract infections.

Changes in your activities. Urinary incontinence may keep you from participating in normal activities. You may stop exercising, quit attending social gatherings or even stop venturing away from familiar areas where you know the locations of toilets.

Changes in your work life. Urinary incontinence may negatively affect your work life. Your urge to urinate may cause you to have to get up often during meetings. The problem may disrupt your concentration at work or keep you awake at night, causing fatigue.

Changes in your personal life. Perhaps most distressing is the impact incontinence can have on your personal life. Your family may not understand your behavior or may grow frustrated at your many trips to the toilet. You may avoid sexual intimacy because of embarrassment caused by urine leakage. It’s not uncommon to experience anxiety and depression along with incontinence.

Tests and Diagnosis

Common tests and processes for urinary incontinence include:

Bladder diary. Your doctor may ask you to keep a bladder diary for several days. You record how much you drink, when you urinate, the amount of urine you produce, whether you had an urge to urinate and the number of incontinence episodes.
Urinalysis. A sample of your urine is sent to a laboratory, where it’s checked for signs of infection, traces of blood or other abnormalities.

Blood test. Your doctor may have a sample of your blood drawn and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Your blood is checked for various chemicals and substances related to causes of incontinence.

Specialized testing

If further information is needed, you may undergo additional testing, including:

Postvoid residual (PVR) measurement. For this procedure, you’re asked to urinate (void) into a container that measures urine output. Then your doctor checks the amount of leftover (residual) urine in your bladder using a catheter or ultrasound test. A catheter is a thin, soft tube that’s inserted into your urethra and bladder to drain any remaining urine. For an ultrasound, a wand-like device is placed over your abdomen. Using sound waves and a computer, the ultrasound creates an image of your bladder. A large amount of leftover urine in your bladder may mean that you have an obstruction in your urinary tract or a problem with your bladder nerves or muscles.

Pelvic ultrasound. Ultrasound also may be used to view other parts of your urinary tract or genitals to check for abnormalities.

Stress test. For this test, you’re asked to cough vigorously or bear down as your doctor examines you and watches for loss of urine.

Urodynamic testing. These tests measure pressure in your bladder when it’s at rest and when it’s filling. A doctor or nurse inserts a catheter into your urethra and bladder to fill your bladder with water. Meanwhile, a pressure monitor measures and records the pressure within your bladder. This test helps measure your bladder strength and urinary sphincter health, and it’s an important tool for distinguishing the type of incontinence you have.

Cystogram. In this X-ray of your bladder, a catheter is inserted into your urethra and bladder. Through the catheter, your doctor injects a fluid containing a special dye. As you urinate and expel this fluid, images show up on a series of X-rays. These images help reveal problems with your urinary tract.

Cystoscopy. A thin tube with a tiny lens (cystoscope) is inserted into your urethra. During cystoscopy, your doctor can check for—and potentially remove—abnormalities in your urinary tract.

Treatment

Treatment for urinary incontinence depends on the type of incontinence, the severity of your problem and the underlying cause. Your doctor will recommend the approaches best suited to your condition. A combination of treatments may be needed.

In most cases, your doctor will suggest the least invasive treatments first, so you’ll try behavioral techniques and physical therapy first and move on to other options only if these techniques fail.

Behavioral techniques

Behavioral techniques and lifestyle changes work well for certain types of urinary incontinence. They may be the only treatment you need.

Bladder training. Your doctor may recommend bladder training—alone or in combination with other therapies—to control urge and other types of incontinence. Bladder training involves learning to delay urination after you get the urge to go. You may start by trying to hold off for 10 minutes every time you feel an urge to urinate. The goal is to lengthen the time between trips to the toilet until you’re urinating every two to four hours.Bladder training may also involve double voiding—urinating, then waiting a few minutes and trying again. This exercise can help you learn to empty your bladder more completely to avoid overflow incontinence. In addition, bladder training may involve learning to control urges to urinate. When you feel the urge to urinate, you’re instructed to relax—breathe slowly and deeply—or to distract yourself with an activity.

Scheduled toilet trips. This means timed urination—going to the toilet according to the clock rather than waiting for the need to go. Following this technique, you go to the toilet on a routine, planned basis—usually every two to four hours.
Fluid and diet management. In some cases, you can simply modify your daily habits to regain control of your bladder. You may need to cut back on or avoid alcohol, caffeine or acidic foods. Reducing liquid consumption, losing weight or increasing physical activity are other lifestyle changes that can eliminate the problem.

Physical therapy

Pelvic floor muscle exercises. These exercises strengthen your urinary sphincter and pelvic floor muscles—the muscles that help control urination. Your doctor may recommend that you do these exercises frequently. They are especially effective for stress incontinence, but may also help urge incontinence.To do pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegel exercises), imagine that you’re trying to stop your urine flow. Squeeze the muscles you would use to stop urinating and hold for a count of three and repeat.

With Kegel exercises, it can be difficult to know whether you’re contracting the right muscles and in the right manner. In general, if you sense a pulling-up feeling when you squeeze, you’re using the right muscles. Men may feel their penises pull in slightly toward their bodies. To double-check that you’re contracting the right muscles, try the exercises in front of a mirror. Your abdominal, buttock or leg muscles shouldn’t tighten if you’re isolating the muscles of the pelvic floor.

If you’re still not sure whether you’re contracting the right muscles, ask your doctor for help. Your doctor may suggest you work with a physical therapist or try biofeedback techniques to help you identify and contract the right muscles. Your doctor may also suggest vaginal cones, which are weights that help women strengthen the pelvic floor.
Electrical stimulation. In this procedure, electrodes are temporarily inserted into your rectum or vagina to stimulate and strengthen pelvic floor muscles. Gentle electrical stimulation can be effective for stress incontinence and urge incontinence, but it takes several months and multiple treatments to work.

Medications

Often, medications are used in conjunction with behavioral techniques. Drugs commonly used to treat incontinence include:
Anticholinergics. These prescription medications calm an overactive bladder, so they may be helpful for urge incontinence. Several drugs fall under this category, including oxybutynin (Ditropan), tolterodine (Detrol), darifenacin (Enablex), fesoterodine (Toviaz), solifenacin (Vesicare) and trospium (Sanctura). Possible side effects of these medications include dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and flushing.

Topical estrogen. Applying low-dose, topical estrogen in the form of a vaginal cream, ring or patch may help tone and rejuvenate tissues in the urethra and vaginal areas. This may reduce some of the symptoms of incontinence.
Imipramine. Imipramine (Tofranil) is a tricyclic antidepressant that may be used to treat mixed—urge and stress—incontinence.

Duloxetine. The antidepressant medication duloxetine (Cymbalta) is sometimes used to treat stress incontinence.

Medical devices

Several medical devices are available to help treat incontinence. They’re designed specifically for women and include:
Urethral insert. This small tampon-like disposable device inserted into the urethra acts as a plug to prevent leakage. It’s usually used to prevent incontinence during a specific activity, but it may be worn throughout the day. Urethral inserts aren’t meant to be worn 24 hours a day. They are available by prescription and may work best for women who have predictable incontinence during certain activities, such as playing tennis. The device is inserted before the activity and removed before urination.

Pessary Your doctor may prescribe a pessary—a stiff ring that you insert into your vagina and wear all day. The device helps hold up your bladder, which lies near the vagina, to prevent urine leakage. You need to regularly remove the device to clean it. You may benefit from a pessary if you have incontinence due to a dropped (prolapsed) bladder or uterus.

Interventional therapies

Bulking material injections. Bulking agents are materials, such as carbon-coated zirconium beads (Durasphere), calcium hydroxylapatite (Coaptite) or polydimethylsiloxane (Macroplastique), that are injected into tissue surrounding the urethra. This helps keep the urethra closed and reduce urine leakage. The procedure—usually done in a doctor’s office—requires minimal anesthesia and takes about five minutes. The downside is that repeat injections are usually needed.

Botulinum toxin type A. Injections of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) into the bladder muscle may benefit people who have an overactive bladder. Researchers have found this to be a promising therapy, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved this drug for incontinence. These injections may cause urinary retention that’s severe enough to require self-catheterization. In addition, repeat injections are needed every six to nine months.

Nerve stimulators. Sacral nerve stimulators can help control your bladder function. The device,which resembles a pacemaker, is implanted under the skin in your buttock. A wire from the device is connected to a sacral nerve—an important nerve in bladder control that runs from your lower spinal cord to your bladder. Through the wire, the device emits painless electrical pulses that stimulate the nerve and help control the bladder. Another device, the tibial nerve stimulator, is approved for treating overactive bladder symptoms. Instead of directly stimulating the sacral nerve, this device uses an electrode placed underneath the skin to deliver electrical pulses to the tibial nerve in the ankle. These pulses then travel along the tibial nerve to the sacral nerve, where they help control overactive bladder symptoms.

Surgery

If other treatments aren’t working, several surgical procedures have been developed to fix problems that cause urinary incontinence.

Some of the commonly used procedures include:

Sling procedures. A sling procedure uses strips of your body’s tissue, synthetic material or mesh to create a pelvic sling or hammock around your bladder neck and urethra. The sling helps keep the urethra closed, especially when you cough or sneeze. There are many types of slings, including tension-free, adjustable and conventional.

Bladder neck suspension. This procedure is designed to provide support to your urethra and bladder neck—an area of thickened muscle where the bladder connects to the urethra. It involves an abdominal incision, so it’s done using general or spinal anesthesia.

Artificial urinary sphincter. This small device is particularly helpful for men who have weakened urinary sphincters from treatment of prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate gland. Shaped like a doughnut, the device is implanted around the neck of your bladder. The fluid-filled ring keeps your urinary sphincter shut tight until you’re ready to urinate. To urinate, you press a valve implanted under your skin that causes the ring to deflate and allows urine from your bladder to flow.

Absorbent pads and catheters

If medical treatments can’t completely eliminate your incontinence—or you need help until a treatment starts to take effect—you can try products that help ease the discomfort and inconvenience of leaking urine.

Pads and protective garments. Various absorbent pads are available to help you manage urine loss. Most products are no more bulky than normal underwear, and you can wear them easily under everyday clothing. Men who have problems with dribbles of urine can use a drip collector—a small pocket of absorbent padding that’s worn over the penis and held in place by closefitting underwear. Men and women can wear adult diapers, pads or panty liners, which can be purchased at drugstores, supermarkets and medical supply stores.

Catheter. If you’re incontinent because your bladder doesn’t empty properly, your doctor may recommend that you learn to insert a soft tube (catheter) into your urethra several times a day to drain your bladder (self-intermittent catheterization). This should give you more control of your leakage, especially if you have overflow incontinence. You’ll be instructed on how to clean these catheters for safe reuse.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Protecting your skin

Problems with urine leakage may require you to take extra care to prevent skin irritation. Some things you can do to protect your skin include:

Use a washcloth to clean yourself.

Allow your skin to air dry.

Avoid frequent washing and douching because these can overwhelm your body’s natural defenses against bladder infections.
Consider using a barrier cream, such as petroleum jelly or cocoa butter, to protect your skin from urine.

Making the toilet more convenient

If you have urge incontinence or nighttime incontinence:

Move any rugs or furniture you might trip over or collide with on the way to the toilet.

Use a night light to illuminate your path and reduce your risk of falling.

If you have functional incontinence, possible changes may include:

Keeping a bedpan in your bedroom

Installing an elevated toilet seat

Adding a bathroom in a more convenient location

Widening an existing bathroom doorway

Prevention

Urinary incontinence is not always preventable. However, you may be able to decrease your risk of incontinence with these steps:

Maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight, reaching a healthy weight may help.

Don’t smoke. Get help with quitting if you do smoke.

Practice Kegel exercises. Doctors often advise pregnant women to do Kegel exercises during pregnancy as a preventive measure.

Avoid bladder irritants. Avoiding or limiting certain foods and drinks may help prevent or limit urinary incontinence. For example, if you know that drinking more than two cups of coffee makes you have to urinate uncontrollably, cutting back to one cup of coffee or forgoing caffeine-containing drinks may be all that you need to do.

Eat more fiber. Including more fiber in your diet or taking fiber supplements can help prevent constipation, a risk factor for urinary incontinence.

Exercise. Physical activity reduces your risk of developing incontinence.

The post Bladder Basics: Urinary Incontinence appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Black Health Matters, the leading health and wellness communications platform, will host its 4^th Black Health Matters Summit virtually on July 18^th from 8:30am to 6:00pm.   This year, Black Health Matters will unveil its new slogan at the 4^th Black Health Matters Summit, being held virtually: “I Vote Because #BlackHealthMatters”. As President and founder, Roslyn Young-Daniels of Black Health Matters has stated,  “Now more than ever we live in a state of urgency that we want used to advance health equity.  Voting provides that opportunity.” When We All Vote will provide easy on-line access to voter registration for all participants in the virtual Summit who have yet to register to vote.

The Black Health Matters Summit is the biggest and most significant health and wellness event of the summer. It is free and open to the public. For more information and to register, visit BlackHealthMattersSummit.vfairs.com.

Black Health Matters Summit:

The Summit will focus on patient-centric issues convened to educate patients, caregivers, health enthusiasts, advocacy groups, and media outlets. We feature a world-class faculty, passionate about connecting with patients about advances in care, especially in the age of COVID-19:

• 20 BEST IN CLASS HEALTH CARE EXPERTS AND THOUGHT LEADERS
• LIVE CHAT Q&A WITH LEADING DOCTORS & ADVOCATES

Topics include: Affording Medications, Breast Cancer, Clinical Trials/Research Study Participation, Kidney Disease (FSGS); HIV/AIDS, Kidney Disease (FSGS), Fibroids/Endometriosis/Reproductive Health, Hereditary ATTTR amyloidosis, Heart Disease, Lung Cancer, Mental Health, Sickle Cell and Prostate Cancer.

Partners include: Akcea, Alnylam, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Gilead, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Myovant, Retrophin, Pfizer and PhRMA.  Community partners include: Empire State Medical Association and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

We want attendees to become intentional about their health by attending the biggest forum on health and wellness created for African American families.   They have the opportunity to dialogue with exceptional physicians, scientists, advocates and peers focused on health equity.  It’s our time to reaffirm that #BlackHealthMatters.

About Black Health Matters

Black Health Matters is a trusted health content and experiential woman-owned firm that offers digital, social and screening programs that reach consumers, patients and medical practitioners.  The platform, launched in 2012 prior to the Black Lives Matters movement to support the enactment of the Affordable Care Act.  The mission is to help newly insured and the medically underserved improve their health literacy through self-reflective and evidence-based health content.

Black Health Matters (BHM) is a leading provider of digital health and wellness solutions for African American consumers and patients.   BHM delivers a highly personalized content experience drawing from touch-points of the African American experience that empower and drive compliance. In 2020 Black Health Matters will host more than 20 virtual forums on African American health.  The organization is currently active with a men’s health education initiative launched in partnership with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

The post Black Health Matters Partners With Michelle Obama’s WHEN WE ALL VOTE appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Derrick has continued his advocacy as co-founder of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Alliance-DMV, a Washington, D.C.-area nonprofit designed to reach local men with proactive prostate cancer education. He spoke to Black Health Matters about his prostate cancer journey and serving as a resource for other Black men dealing with the disease.

Black Health Matters: How were you first diagnosed with prostate cancer?

Derrick Butts: I have a family history; my father, grandfather, and uncle all had prostate cancer. Because of that, I had been tracking my prostate health since I was 38. In 2015, I noticed my PSA rose from 3.32 to 4.32. But I had no side effects—I was asymptomatic. Because I had been getting my PSA checked annually, the rise caused me to get a biopsy, but the first doctor didn’t give me a clear indication of anything. A second doctor didn’t give a clear answer either but sent me to a specialist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). That was the first indication that I had prostate cancer. Getting diagnosed took seven months.

Black Health Matters: Why is it so hard for Black men to get diagnosed?

Derrick Butts: I run into men who aren’t frequently going to the doctor because they don’t have insurance or don’t feel the need to proactively check their PSA because they’re not experiencing any pain or symptoms. Those who do see a doctor are often told they don’t need a PSA because they’re not old enough—and these doctors say that without even knowing the person’s family history.

Black Health Matters: What led to the launch of your nonprofit?

Derrick Butts: I saw there was a real need here for education. We started the nonprofit to offer prostate cancer support, share services, discuss therapies/technologies for those in the DC Maryland-Virginia area, and share prostate cancer survivor stories. A lot of men, for instance, didn’t know they could go to different medical facilities in the area like Howard University Hospital, INOVA, George Washington University Hospital, or Johns Hopkins Medical Center. We then found that people outside the DMV were attending our virtual events to ask about services and cancer support where they live. So now we’re looking to bring our support model to other underserved areas with a high concentration of Black men with prostate cancer.

Black Health Matters: What advice do you give to men who are newly diagnosed?

Derrick Butts: I talk to 2-3 men a week who have been newly diagnosed—it’s usually because they saw me on a webinar. The first questions I ask are, what’s your PSA level, and do you have a family history? That information lets me know how or if they have thought about their prostate cancer journey. I also discuss treatment options and where they can go for a second opinion. If they’re married, I tell them to make sure they have an in-depth conversation with their wife, spouse, or partner. This experience will feel like a roller coaster, so it’s important to have a cheerleader to support you on this journey. No one should ever navigate a cancer journey alone.

Black Health Matters: What does this work mean to you as a survivor?

Derrick Butts: If you look at stats, 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. If you’re Black, it’s 1 in 5. When you start giving people numbers [in terms of the prevalence of prostate cancer in Black men, particularly those with a family history], it really hits home that it’s important to know their PSA numbers and get ahead of this disease. Every man is going to be diagnosed at a different stage, and our goal is help them to catch prostate cancer early. I hope to share my and other men’s stories to let them know there is life after prostate cancer.

Derrick A. Butts pictured with his father, Thomas A. Butts.

This article has been brought to you by Lilly.

The post How One Black Man’s Cancer Battle Inspired His Activism appeared first on Black Health Matters.

1.  One in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. That number increases to 1 in 7 for Black men. Prostate cancer occurs more often in Black men than in men of other races.
2.  Most men with early prostate cancer, or cancer that’s contained inside the prostate, don’t have any symptoms. Symptoms usually develop if the cancer spreads outside the prostate and into nearby areas or around the body.
3.  While it’s clear Black men are at a greater risk for prostate cancer, the reasons are not definitively known. It could be a combination of factors, from genetics to access to care.
4.  The relative five-year survival rate for prostate cancer diagnosed in its earliest stages is nearly 100%. The survival rate for men who present with late-stage disease drops to 31%. Black men are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer than White men.
5.  Given the higher risk of developing prostate cancer and dying from the disease, Black men are more likely to have improved outcomes with screening. The main prostate cancer screening tests are a digital rectal exam, in which a doctor checks for swelling and lumps, and a PSA test, which measures the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood.
6.  The American Cancer Society recommends that Black men start prostate cancer screenings at age 45. While other ethnic groups start at age 50, that’s five years too late, say medical professionals. And if they have more than one family member who developed prostate cancer before age 45, Black men should talk with their doctors about starting their screening at age 40.
7.   Black men may be harmed by racial bias in preventive care, as they are less likely than White men to be offered the option of having a PSA test, and are more likely than White men to be told that the benefits of prostate cancer screening are uncertain.
8.  Despite the increased risk of developing prostate cancer and dying from it, Black men are underrepresented in clinical trials that test new therapies — making up only 6.7% of patients. The biggest barrier seems to be not having information about the trials themselves as well as the possible benefits they offer.

Sources: American Cancer Society, Zero-The End of Prostate Cancer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Medical News Today

This article has been brought to you by Lilly

The post 8 Things Black Men and Caregivers Should Know about Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The next night, he saw another red dot on his T-shirt. It was in the same area, near his right nipple. Although he laughs about being the kind of guy who wants an MRI to make sure a headache is only a headache, he continued to downplay it.

Days later, Knowles saw it again. He mentioned it to his wife. Come to think of it, she said, she’d seen red spots on their bedsheets in recent days.

Now Knowles was curious enough to squeeze his right nipple. Out came blood, beginning a series of events with potentially life-altering ramifications for himself and his family, including his daughters Beyoncé and Solange.

Knowles turned out to be one of the rare men with breast cancer. Further testing uncovered that he has a mutation of one of the so-called “breast cancer genes,” specifically BRCA2.

That discovery may explain why he developed cancer in his right breast, and it means he’s at a higher risk of developing other forms of cancer. He’s already had a mastectomy of his right breast and is planning one for the left side to be safe.

Aggressive, proactive response to the risks associated with this genetic mutation became part of the national conversation years ago when actress Angelina Jolie learned that she had the BRCA1 mutation and opted for a preventive double mastectomy. She then had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to guard against ovarian cancer.

The fact that Knowles has the mutation gives each of his children a 50% chance of having it. If any females have it, their risks increase sharply for breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

As a longtime volunteer for the American Heart Association, Knowles knew he was fighting more than cancer, the No. 2 killer of Americans. Cancer patients can experience cardiac complications related to treatments including chemotherapy and radiation or as a result of the hormonal changes that follow procedures such as removal of the ovaries.

His relationship with the AHA is why he chose to reveal what he’s been through with American Heart Association News in advance of his public disclosure Wednesday on “Good Morning America.”

Knowles–who managed supergroup Destiny’s Child and co-wrote their hit song “Survivor”–is sharing his story to draw attention to the links between heart disease and cancer, as well as other powerful messages:

• Men can have breast cancer.
• Genetic testing for mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene is often wise for men and women of all ethnicities with a family history of breast cancer.
• Early detection improves the chances for a successful outcome.

“I don’t want people to be worried–I want them to be proactive,” Knowles said. “The sooner you address it, the better you have a chance of having a normal lifestyle and living a normal life.”

So far, so good for Knowles.

Since the mastectomy, he’s been exercising more, watching what he eats and drinking less alcohol. He’s lost 15 pounds and hopes to drop 10 more. He’s also begun taking medicine to control his blood pressure and meditating to manage stress.

At 67, he understands that prioritizing his health lets him enjoy a full life. In the coming months, he’ll be releasing a book, album and musical about Destiny’s Child. He also teaches a weekly class in sports, event and entertainment marketing at Prairie View A&M University in Texas.

“What is quality of life?” Knowles said. “It’s not just money. It starts with health.”

***

As a former college basketball player who’s endured five surgeries related to his athletic career, Knowles has long been in tune with his body. A family history of heart disease and cancer also have helped him be vigilant with his medical care.

Still, when he squeezed his right nipple and blood emerged, his first thought was to find a simple reason for it.

Was he taking any new medicines? No.

“Did I hurt myself somehow?” he thought. “Could it be related to working out? Was it from something I ate? Are the cleaners using different chemicals?”

Once he eliminated those options, he considered breast cancer.

In addition to losing several relatives to it, the disease also was top of mind because his wife’s mom is battling it and, in January, his wife’s sister died of it. Tiffany Smith was 49. Her case made the news because her husband, Rick Smith, resigned as general manager of the NFL’s Houston Texans to care for her and their three kids. Along the way, Knowles saw the toll breast cancer took on her and her family.

While he figured it unlikely that he had breast cancer, Knowles couldn’t rule it out. So he tapped out a text to someone who could, his internist, Dr. James Muntz.

***

Muntz saw Knowles the next day. The doctor drained fluid from Knowles’ right nipple and sent the sample for testing.

In his 35-year career, Muntz had seen only one male patient with breast cancer. He already feared that he was seeing another.

Still, neither he nor Knowles used the words “breast cancer.”

“Mathew is pretty open about all this and seemed calm,” said Muntz, who also is the team doctor for Houston’s NFL, MLB and NBA teams. “But he was aware of what we were looking for.”

In fact, Knowles was uniquely aware of how breast cancer is detected.

***

In 1978, Knowles was selling office copiers for Xerox when he learned about a job opening in the medical division. The position was selling xeroradiography machines, an imaging device used to detect cancer, especially in breasts.

He prepared for the interview by spending countless hours at the library. He learned all he could about breast cancer and the technology behind detecting it.

Talking the talk helped him land the job. It also helped him become the top salesman. He later went to Philips, where his first role was selling CT scanners and MRIs. He ended up spending 20 years in diagnostic imaging, leaving to oversee Destiny’s Child.

***

When Muntz got results from the lab work, he sent Knowles for a mammogram.

Knowles managed to look at the scan.

“I could see it myself–a mass of less than 2 centimeters,” Knowles said. “I knew what that meant.”

A biopsy confirmed it was malignant. The mastectomy followed. Fortunately, the tumor was stage 1A, one of the earliest, and hadn’t spread.

But where did it come from? Why was he among the mere 2,000 or so men in the country likely to get diagnosed with breast cancer this year?

Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. They’re important, too. They help cells stay healthy by repairing damage.

A change in any gene is called a mutation. A change in either BRCA gene makes certain types of cancer more likely, especially breast cancer.

Because only 0.1 percent of men develop breast cancer but up to 10 percent of men with a BRCA mutation develop it, doctors often recommend male breast cancer patients undergo a simple blood test to check for those mutations.

“Ten percent is not high in general, but it’s astronomically higher–up to 100 times–than for someone who doesn’t have the mutation,” said Dr. Susan Domchek, executive director of the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, the world’s first comprehensive center aimed at advancing research, treatment and prevention of BRCA-related cancers.

Domchek also is part of Knowles’ medical team. They were introduced by AHA officials.

Knowing Knowles had the BRCA2 mutation was a game-changer.

For instance, had Knowles known it sooner, he would’ve had a double mastectomy from the start. His risk of developing cancer in his left breast remains only as high as 10 percent. Considering how his odds have broken thus far, his attitude is, “Why even have a risk?”

He also knows his risk of developing prostate cancer has gone from about 11 percent to as high as 25 percent, so he’s seeing a urologist. An MRI showed cause for concern, prompting further testing and monitoring.

Doctors also are paying close attention to elevated risks for cancer in his skin and pancreas.

***

The other crucial layer of Knowles knowing he has the BRCA2 mutation is what it means for his family.

Domchek frames it this way: “We often say that we don’t test people, we test families, because of the implications for families.”

Research is underway to determine which side of his family the mutation comes from. Anecdotal evidence makes it a toss-up.

On his mother’s side, breast cancer claimed an aunt and two first cousins. On his father’s side, an aunt recently was diagnosed with breast cancer, and prostate cancer claimed the lives of his grandfather and three uncles. Relatives from the affected side will get advice about what to do next.

Then there are his children and grandchildren.

In addition to each child facing a 50 percent chance of having the mutation, each grandchild has a 25 percent chance.

If any females have the mutation, their risk of breast cancer goes from 12 percent to 69 percent, and their risk of ovarian cancer goes from 1.3 percent to 17 percent. They will also need to monitor their skin and pancreas.

“I have let both Beyoncé and Solange be aware and know what’s required,” Knowles said. “They proudly do routine screening. … Fortunately, my daughters have a wonderful team of experts that have certainly been vigilant in making sure and ensuring that they’re OK.”

***

For every 10 women tested for BRCA mutations, only one man gets tested, Domchek said.

That makes it tougher for researchers. Tougher still is that among the men who get tested, most are white.

Knowles, therefore, can help break a lot of barriers for scientists and, ultimately, patients.

“An influential black man with breast cancer and the BRCA2 mutation? This is such an important story to share for so many reasons,” Domchek said. “This powerful story will impact and inspire so many.”

Knowles especially hopes his story resonates among African Americans, who often face numerous disparities in health and proper care.

After all, despite his extensive experience around cancer, he’d never heard of BRCA mutations until his ordeal. And he considers himself more fortunate than others. A case such as his could raise awareness and spur people into action.

Another way Knowles is trying to help is by joining the cohort of patients with a BRCA mutation being studied by Domchek’s team.

“We want to figure out why he developed breast cancer when most BRCA2 carriers do not,” she said. “The more we understand that, the more we can help others.”

***

For several years, Knowles has closed speeches by telling about the time he was at the Los Angeles International Airport and a woman gave him a card that read: “Pray not for a life free from trouble. Pray for triumph over trouble. What you and I call adversity, God calls opportunity.”

Now, he has a new appreciation for that sentiment.

“My opportunity is to help people have awareness of the BRCA gene (mutation) and of male breast cancer,” he said. “Things happens for a reason. I’m grateful for this opportunity to save myself, hopefully save my family and hopefully impact the world in an extremely positive way.”

From American Heart Association News

The post Mathew Knowles: ‘I Have Breast Cancer’ appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“There are so many ‘good-for-you’ foods to choose from that the list could be a mile long,” says Stacy Kennedy, a nutritionist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “But if I had to pick just five, I would start in the produce aisle of the grocery store.”

Remember: If it comes from the ground and can stain a shirt, you want to be eating it.

“The key is color,” says Kennedy. “That is where the phytonutrients, or cancer-fighting properties, can be found. They help protect the produce and can also be beneficial for humans by strengthening the immune system.”

Here is a list of five of Kennedy’s favorite foods:

Kale may be the new “it” food, but long before it was popular, it was one of Kennedy’s favorites. “Kale is one of my go-to choices, because it’s rich in a phytonutrient called indoles, which stimulates liver detoxification and helps fight cancer,” says Kennedy. Indoles are found in the rich, dark green color of kale. Other members of the cruciferous family include broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.

The American Cancer Society suggests consuming one serving of cruciferous vegetables a day, and studies show people who have diets rich in these vegetables have been found to have lower incidences of lung cancer, prostate cancer and stomach cancer.

Kale that is cooked by steaming also may have cholesterol-lowering benefits. Try it in a hearty seafood stew with tomatoes, saffron and kale.

“Tomatoes are a great food because they are rich in a phytonutrient called lycopene, which has been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer,” explains Kennedy.

Tomatoes are available year-round in the supermarket, but when they are in season, try to buy them at local farm stands. That’s when they are at their nutritional peak.

A tip for getting the most nutritional value from tomatoes is to buy local, make them into a sauce and freeze it to use year-round. The lycopene is best absorbed when the tomato is cooked. Including a healthy fat, like olive oil or avocado, helps pack a more nutritional punch. Try them fresh in this dish of angel hair pasta with tomatoes and avocado.

Sweet potatoes and yams are other foods that should be enjoyed year-round. They are rich in a phytonutrient called carotenoids. “As little as two servings a day of carotenoids have been shown to help reduce the risk of breast cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer,” says Kennedy.

What other foods are rich in carotenoids? Think orange like carrots, acorn or butternut squash, and pumpkin.

Phytonutrients like carotenoids are available in pill form, but Kennedy warns that they do not have the same protective properties as those found in whole foods and may even cause harm in certain individuals.

To get the healthiest boost, Kennedy says it is best to eat the food in its whole form. One of her favorites is a roasted vegetable salad.

Studies suggest that eating at least one apple a day can help prevent throat, mouth, colon, lung and possibly breast cancer. Besides being crisp, sweet and juicy, apples contain quercetin, a nutrient that protects the cell’s DNA from damage that could lead to the development of cancer.

“It’s best to choose organic, when possible, and eat them raw and with the skin on,” says Kennedy. “That’s where many of the nutrients are found.”

Although it may not be found in the produce aisle, quinoa is a great source of  protein. It’s naturally gluten-free and often called an ancient grain because it’s been grown for thousands of years. Quinoa is actually a seed that can be ground into flour.

It is considered a complete protein because it contains all nine essential amino acids. Quinoa is also rich in fiber and minerals like iron, magnesium and calcium, plus phytonutrients like quercetin.

Quinoa is a nice alternative to protein-rich foods like meat and fish. Other alternatives include lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains and dark green, leafy vegetables.

From Bay State Banner

The post 5 Foods That Could Lower Your Cancer Risk appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“As Black men continue to be at higher risk of diagnosis and death from prostate cancer, continued regular prostate cancer screening beginning at age 40 [is just] practical,” explained urologist Dr. Kevin Billups (Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN) during the “Family Ties: Blood and Bond” session at our recent Black Health Matters and Kappa Health Summit sponsored by Janssen Oncology, part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

More importantly, if you have a strong familial history of prostate cancer, you need to talk about it. During the Summit, the audience posted comments about how prostate cancer risk was never discussed and therefore, some men may not even be aware of a family history. One person even shared how prostate cancer took the lives of several uncles yet it was never discussed openly. This prompted other attendees to declare that “family secrets shouldn’t kill us.”

According to Dr. Billups, discussions on screenings should start even earlier if there’s a family history and he advises men to get their prostate checked at least 10 years before the age their father was diagnosed.

Another reason regular prostate check-ups are important is that sometimes a person with prostate cancer does not experience any symptoms. This was the case with prostate cancer survivor and patient advocate Robert Young, who also joined the Summit. “Some men may wait until they start to experience symptoms like incontinence, impotence, blood in your urine or semen, but you’ve got to try to detect it before it gets to that point.”

Dr. Billups and Young also recommend asking your doctor for a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening during your exam. PSA is a protein secreted by the prostate that is often elevated with prostate cancer. Because of this, these screenings offer a chance of early detection.

“It’s important to know your bloodwork from previous years to see if there has been any major changes,” said Dr. Billups. This was the case for Young, whose PSA levels went from a 4 to a 6 in one year and created a red flag for his doctor. After completing a biopsy, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 47 years old.

Unfortunately, Black men are less likely than white men to be offered the opportunity for PSA testing, so it’s important they are aware of the various options available so they can proactively advocate for their own health.

Dr. Billups also addressed the necessity of a digital rectal exam (DRE) when being screened for prostate cancer and why attempts to avoid a DRE are harmful. “As much as men may feel uncomfortable, a complete evaluation for prostate cancer cannot be done without it because it provides information about the size of the prostate and if there is inflammation or abnormalities.”

To learn more, watch the full session below.

If you or anyone you know is living with prostate cancer, visit https://www.myprostatecancerroadmap.com/ for information and resources.

This article is brought to you by Janssen.

The post Why Regular Prostate Cancer Screenings Matter appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The prostate is a small gland that sits just below the bladder and is part of the male reproductive system. The gland aids in the generation of hormones and sperm, as well as the control of urine flow. Prostate cancer develops when cells in the prostate become uncontrollably proliferated. This happens when there are mutations in the DNA of prostate cells. Inherited genes that raise the chance of cancer, and acquired mutations through harmful chemical exposure, are possible causes of prostate cancer.

Not only are adult Black men more likely than white men to have this disease, but they also develop it at an early age. Prostate cancer can occur at age 40 and spread rapidly by age 50. According to a 2020 study published in JAMA, after a median follow-up of 7.6 years, 59.9% of Black men with low-risk prostate cancer had disease progression, compared to 48.3% of non-Hispanic white men. Similarly, within the study’s time frame, 54.8% of Black men underwent definitive treatment, compared to 41.4% of non-Hispanic white men.

The notion that Black men are more likely to get aggressive prostate cancer is not new; such inequalities are not uncommon in the cancer field. Historical and institutional racism, racial biases, and entrenched socioeconomic factors ultimately contribute to these gaps in cancer. When evaluating these factors, it is important to acknowledge the mistrust many African Americans have towards U.S. healthcare as a result of historical exploitation and prejudice. Such examples are the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study, as well as the case of Henrietta Lacks in the cancer field—the story is as much about suffering from cancer as it is about a lack of bioethical standards at the time.

Some scholars have concluded that racial biases in the medical system drive doctors to provide poor health care to patients of color, contributing to increased rates of morbidity and mortality. The composition of the medical workforce reflects the absence of appropriate representation. Even though Black Americans make up 13.4% of the U.S. population, only 2.3% of practicing oncologists self-identify as Black or African American. In addition, ethnic/racial groups reportedly comprise only 3–7% of biomedical research faculty in the U.S., despite having a greater representation at the Ph.D. and postdoctoral levels. This lack of diversity in the oncology workforce has grave consequences for Black patients as it can obfuscate correlations between disease traits and treatment response, reinforcing health inequities.

However, sharing a racial or cultural background with one’s doctor helps promote communication and trust. A 2019 NBER study found that Black men seen by Black doctors agreed to more invasive, preventive services than those treated by non-Black doctors. While efforts to address these disparities grow, cultural and social norms remain obstacles for Black men to navigate the system. Norms surrounding masculinity can become barriers to Black men in receiving the health care they need, according to a University of Michigan study published in the journal Social Work.

While a personal matter, sexual health is a major concern in the case of prostate cancer. Men are typically hesitant to ask healthcare professionals, friends, or family members questions. According to some theories “toxic” has an impact on physical health. Toxic masculinity may deter some men from seeking help for potential health concerns. Asking for help can cause emotions of inadequacy, weakness, and a sense of being “less of a man” in some men.

More Black lives can be saved with prostate screening than those at lower risk. When prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening tests were introduced in the 1990s, the death rates of Black men dropped the highest. Because of the substantial association between midlife PSA levels and the risk of aggressive prostate cancer, Black men should practice frequent and early screening. Men between the age of 55 to 69 should consider PSA screening and regular prostate exams, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Although prostate cancer is uncommon in men under the age of 45, a 2020 study suggests that high-risk Black men should undergo prostate screening at this age. Any clinical suspicion of prostate cancer can be raised by these screening tests. Although prostate cancer is rare in males under 45 years, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study suggests that Black men at high risk should consider prostate screening around this age. The tests can raise any clinical suspicion of prostate cancer.

Lifestyle changes can also help lower the risk of prostate cancer such as exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking. However, Black men should not have to deal with the medical system and cancer risks alone. Brotherhood and community are advocacy tools that can enable Black males not only to check in with one another but also speak up for one another.

This article is brought to you by Janssen.

The post Speaking Up and Checking In: Why Advocacy for Prostate Cancer in the Healthcare System Is Important appeared first on Black Health Matters.

These experiences—combined with socioeconomic status, lack of access, and cultural differences—often bar Black individuals from navigating the healthcare system like their non-Black counterparts.

This disparity is a particularly serious problem as it relates to prostate cancer, a disease that overwhelmingly affects Black men and their families. Black men are almost twice as likely to get prostate cancer and they die at a rate 2.2 times higher compared with white men.

The scarcity of Black urologists and oncologists is another barrier Black men may face in accessing the best care. Many people feel more comfortable with healthcare providers who they relate to personally, and Black men are much more likely to agree to preventive measures when seeing a Black male doctor.

Cultural Barriers to Confronting Prostate Cancer

While efforts to address healthcare disparities are apparent, there are also cultural barriers that affect Black men’s ability to receive equitable care.

Health is an inherently vulnerable, private topic and discussing symptoms may be viewed as “weak.” This contrasts with what researchers refer to as “stoicism” among Black men when it comes to their care, as a possible explanation of why Black men are disconnected from the healthcare system and are reluctant to participate in health-related activities.

Though the matter of sexual health can be an important concern with prostate cancer, men are often hesitant to ask questions of healthcare professionals, friends, or family. These taboos make conversations about prostate health and its effects especially challenging for Black men.

Centering the Needs of Black Male Patients

The medical community must seek out Black men at a time and place where they are comfortable and address them directly about prostate cancer with health awareness programs, recruitment into clinical trials, and other information.

Healthcare providers can contribute to better care for prostate cancer by taking the time to connect with their patients, getting to know them personally, and establishing trust. Making a meaningful connection and using plain layman’s terms can be a driver for better health outcomes in prostate cancer for Black men.

The Importance of Building Community

Community is essential to the effort to close the disparity in prostate cancer and care.

Barbershops have long served as a cultural hub in Black communities where Black men can freely discuss a wide range of topics, including health. In recent years, these spaces have stepped to the forefront as a trusted avenue of health information. Churches, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and fraternities such as Kappa Alpha Psi can also serve as safe spaces where Black men support each other, check in with one another about health concerns, and encourage each other to see a doctor.

Surrounded by an authentic community, Black men can connect and have real conversations about prostate cancer, ultimately seeking care from a healthcare provider. In the work to improve Black men’s health, community, and brotherhood are powerful tools of advocacy.

This article is brought to you by Janssen.

The post Bias & Barriers in Prostate Cancer: How Community Connections Make a Big Difference appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“You hear the word cancer and . . .your mind goes . . . to [the] next level,” Al reflects as he recalls the moment his urologist Dr. Vincent Laudone of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center gave him the news. “I wanted to go public with this because [1 in 7]* men are going to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime . . . [and] for African American men . . . it’s more deadly.”

For Black men, the reality of a prostate cancer diagnosis is far greater than their White counterparts and twice as deadly. In fact, 1 in 7* African American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Al states, “The problem for African American men [being more affected by prostate cancer] is . . . any number of reasons from genetics to access to health care, . . . so we want to make it [information] available and let people know they got to get checked.”

Representation matters. Despite showing an overwhelming majority in prostate cancer diagnoses and related deaths, African American men are still significantly underrepresented in prostate cancer clinical trials.

Clinical trials are research studies that involve the use of volunteer human participants to explore if an investigational drug is safe and effective for the general public to use.

There are a few possible reasons why participation in clinical trials among African American men is low:

1. Lack of awareness, physician bias, and assumed unwillingness to participateA primary barrier for African American men to participate in clinical trials is simply a lack of access to information. Unfortunately, physicians often make assumptions about the willingness or lack thereof of African Americans to participate in clinical trials and are less likely to initiate a conversation and inform their African American patients of available clinical trials for which they may qualify..
2. Distrust in healthcare systemAfrican Americans generally have a distrust in the medical system due to a history of exploitation and inhumane treatment from the medical community in the United States. Unethical experiments such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment has made a long-lasting impact on how African Americans view their healthcare providers. This is particularly evident among African American men. Unfortunately, Black doctors only make up about 5% of active physicians according the Association of American Medical Colleges’ 2018 U.S. physician workforce data. Distrust has been well documented as a reason for lower participation of Blacks in clinical research and low prevalence of Black doctors may be a contributing factor to African American men’s willingness to participate in clinical trials.
3. Physician bias and perceived patient intelligenceA van Ryn and Burke study found that physicians typically perceived African American patients as less intelligent and two-thirds more likely to adhere to the physicians prescribed method of care than White patients. Based on the results from this study, it’s possible that the implicit bias of some physicians influences a physician’s ability or willingness to engage in a conversation about clinical trials, because they assume that their African American patients will not understand. This bias further contributes to the gross underrepresentation of African American men in clinical trials.
4. Racial bias in perceived pain assessments and treatmentAfrican Americans are often subjected to false perceptions of biological differences concerning pain when compared to White Americans. This misconception often leads to healthcare providers under assessing the level of pain African American patients experience and are therefore less likely to take action with proper care and adequate treatment options. Often the “wait-and-see” approach to patient care is taken versus proactive approaches. There are no symptoms in early stages of prostate cancer. And unfortunately, for African American men, if their prostate cancer has progressed and they’re experiencing discomfort, their pain is likely to be minimized by their physician. This further contributes to the distrust African Americans feel towards the healthcare system and could also be a reason why African American men often choose to not go to the doctors – feeling that their concerns will not be addressed or validated.
5. Men – regardless of race, don’t go to the doctorA survey from the Cleveland Clinic’s annual “MENtion It” campaign revealed that 65% of men avoid going to the doctor as long as possible. And when they actually do go, 20% aren’t honest with their doctors about their health and 37% said they withheld information from their healthcare providers. Medical avoidance is a real issue for all men.

In an interview with Al Roker and co-hosts on the TODAY show Dr. Carol Brown, a cancer surgeon and Director for Diversity and Health Equity at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center states, “African American men are 50% more likely to get prostate cancer and unfortunately they’re twice as likely to pass-away from prostate cancer than White men are in the United States.” She continues, “Screening saves lives. And African American men need to get screened . . .starting at age 40.”

It’s unclear why African American men are more susceptible to prostate cancer and have greater fatality rates than other racial groups. More research is needed. Unfortunately, due to a lack of representation of African American men in prostate cancer clinical trials, Black men continue to be at a disadvantage.

The presence of African American men is needed in prostate cancer clinical trials. With their participation, researchers can study the biology of prostate cancer in African American men as well as the effects and potential risks of current and future treatment options.

Participation is completely voluntary, and participants can stop at any time. African American men who are interested in participating in a prostate cancer clinical trial, should speak to their healthcare provider or visit BMSStudyConnect.com

*Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. United States Cancer Statistics: Male Urologic Cancers. USCS data brief, no 21. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/about/data-briefs/no21-male-urologic-cancers.htm

The post Turning Pain into Purpose: Al Roker Shares Prostate Cancer Story, Urges Black Men to Get Tested appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The type and stage of your cancer, as well as your overall health and preferences, will help you and your health care provider choose the most appropriate treatment plan. Options may include active surveillance, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, cryosurgery, chemotherapy and biological therapy. 

Most prostate cancer cells rely on testosterone to help them grow. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer, also called androgen deprivation therapy, is a treatment to stop testosterone from being produced or reaching prostate cancer cells.

Your doctor may recommend hormone therapy for prostate cancer as an option at different times and for different reasons during your cancer treatment.

Hormone therapy can be used:

• In advanced prostate cancer to shrink the cancer and slow the growth of tumors, which also might relieve signs and symptoms
• After treatment of prostate cancer, if your PSA level remains high or starts rising
• In locally advanced prostate cancer, to make radiation therapy more effective in reducing the risk of recurrence
• In those with a high risk of recurrence after initial treatment

Side effects of hormone therapy for prostate cancer can include:

• Loss of muscle mass
• Increased body fat
• Loss of sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction
• Bone thinning, which can lead to broken bones
• Hot flashes
• Decreased body hair, smaller genitalia and growth of breast tissue
• Fatigue
• Changes in behavior
• Problems with metabolism

To minimize the side effects of hormone therapy, your doctor may recommend you take them for certain periods of time or until your PSA is very low. You might need to resume these medications if the disease recurs or progresses.

Early research shows this intermittent dosing of hormone therapy medications may reduce the risk of side effects. However, we need additional studies to determine the long-term survival benefits of intermittent therapy.

Your doctor might suggest intermittent dosing if you have an elevated level of PSA in your blood, but no other evidence of spreading cancer.

As you consider hormone therapy for prostate cancer, discuss your options with your doctor. Approaches to hormone therapy for prostate cancer include:

• Medications that stop your body from producing testosterone. Certain medications—known as luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists—prevent your body’s cells from receiving messages to make testosterone. As a result, your testicles stop producing testosterone.
• Medications that block testosterone from reaching cancer cells. These medications, known as anti-androgens, usually are given in conjunction with LHRH agonists. That’s because LHRH agonists can cause a temporary increase in testosterone before testosterone levels decrease.
• Surgery to remove the testicles. Removing your testicles reduces testosterone levels in your body quickly and significantly. But unlike medication options, surgery to remove the testicles is permanent and irreversible.

You’ll meet with your cancer doctor regularly for follow-up visits while you’re taking hormone therapy for prostate cancer. Your doctor will ask about any side effects you’re experiencing. Many side effects can be controlled.

Depending on your circumstances, you may undergo tests to monitor your medical situation and watch for cancer recurrence or progression while you’re taking hormone therapy. Results of these tests can give your doctor an idea of how you’re responding to hormone therapy, and your therapy may be adjusted accordingly.

The post Is Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer Right for You? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Dr. George Johnson, a partner at New Jersey Urology, and Dr. Lewis Kampel, medical director of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care, were equally adamant about clinical trials holding potential answers and solutions. As with most illnesses and conditions, clinical trials for prostate treatment are practically devoid of Black patients, they said, and dramatically increasing the number of participants should reduce, or even eliminate, the disparity.

“Whether it’s that they’re not being asked—that’s probably the reason why we don’t see good representation,” Dr. Johnson, one of just a handful of African American board-certified urologists practicing in New Jersey, told his summit session. “And I encourage our audience to speak to their health care provider to ask about clinical trials.’’

Information about where and when prostate cancer clinical trials are taking place is readily available, he added: “Ask about them, research them, find out if you’re comfortable and if they’re safe. Absolutely be involved.’’

Dr. Kampel pointed to a well-known trial from the early 2000s on the drugs finasteride and Dutasteride that produced very mixed results on the prevention of prostate cancer. The problem, he said, was that Black men were very poorly represented in the trials.

“Maybe even though it didn’t work when you lumped a whole bunch of people together with only a small number of African American men, maybe if we looked at just the African American men, if there were enough of them in the trial, we would find that it was beneficial,’’ Dr. Kampel said. 

“And, I might add, that the reverse could also be true. We might find a drug that works in the general population, but might not be tolerated well among the African American men, or women. So, it’s very important for clinical trials to include a broad spectrum of our population, so we can pick these things up.’’

Black men continue to be 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men, and are 2.2 times more likely to die from it. It is the most frequently occurring cancer in men overall, and the second-most fatal.

“Why?’’ Dr. Johnson said of the imbalance. “Talk about disparities in income, in education, insurance status, and we can talk about cultural factors.’’

“There may be some fear of testing which may delay testing and diagnosis and results in a worse outcome,’’ Dr. Kampel said. He said access to treatment and care “clearly plays a role,’’ pointing to research done at VA hospitals: “When access is equal, these disparities narrow.’’

Numerous research organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the American Urological Association, have recently developed differing recommendations on prostate screenings, Dr. Johnson noted. The recommendations are based on heredity, risk levels and other factors, and affect the age at which screenings should begin and how often they should be given.

Starting regular screening at 50 is more often recommended now, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Kampel agree, as opposed to previous recommendations to begin at 40. And no matter a man’s age, open communication with his health care provider can be more beneficial than an annual exam.

With that, however, Dr. Kampel said the urgency of the disparities among Black men alters the equation. “I strongly recommend routine screening” for Black men starting at 40,’’ he said.

The chasm between Black and white patients, Dr. Kampel said, “is an absolutely startling number, and it just cries out for action to reduce that disparity.’’

—David Steele

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The vast differences in breast, lung, colon and prostate cancer mortality rates were bad enough, said Dr. Brown, a gynecologic oncology surgeon, director of the Office of Diversity Programs in Clinical Care, Research and Training at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the second-ever African American president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. 

Then there were the rates for uterine cancer—a five-year survival rate that is 20 percent lower for Black women as compared to white, a gap that has stayed constant for 30 years. 

“That’s crazy, and that’s unacceptable,’’ Dr. Brown said.

Her colleagues have worked to close the gap, she said, partly by becoming a resource for patients seeking clinical trials to enter, and largely because the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center focuses on giving equal access to trials to all of its patients, regardless of race, income or ability to pay. While nationwide Blacks and other people of color make up a fraction of clinical trial participants, Dr. Brown said, one out of every three patients treated at the center participates in them.

Taking part in a trial, she said, “is actually the best way to level the playing field for Black people affected by cancer.’’ 

Among the many benefits for Black patients include early access to treatment proven by the trials to be effective before it is available to the general public, and access to the best physicians in the best facilities.

“It’s a really good way to make sure that you’re getting very intense, high-quality care,” Dr. Brown said, pointing to advances in uterine cancer treatment that emerged from trials conducted by her Memorial Sloan Kettering colleagues that zeroed in on the biological differences in the types of cancers that disproportionately affected Black women.

As an example: Memorial Sloan Kettering’s website lists 12 clinical trials currently underway solely for uterine cancer, including one on the effect of acupuncture and another on how a keto diet affects treatment of overweight patients. Dr. Brown pointed out that such alternative treatments were purposely included because of patients’ desire to know all their options.

Cancer.gov, the site for the National Cancer Institute, also lists available clinical trials nationwide, for those outside of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s service area.

To help their own treatment and to improve the research and results, Dr. Brown said, patients must advocate for themselves and directly ask their primary care physician or oncologist about joining clinical trials. Consider that if the patient doesn’t, possibly no one will: “Physicians often have biases and are not educated about the groups they’re serving.’’

And the patients have to overcome their fear, not only of their own disease, but of the history of negligence and abuse toward Black patients. 

Dr. Brown said she is asked often about whether trials can be trusted, with the memory of the notorious Tuskegee experiments in mind. Clinical trials are not experiments, she made clear, and patients are not signing up to be lab rats.

“There’s nothing for you to be afraid of, except not getting treatment for your cancer and not finding out about it,’’ she said.

—David Steele

The post Closing the Gap: Providing Equal Access to Clinical Trials appeared first on Black Health Matters.

According to Harris, who represents 6,100 Ques throughout Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida, the partnership is focusing on prostate cancer, diabetes and mental health. “This is an awesome partnership because Black Health Matters takes a holistic approach to health,” Harris said. “The gradual approach that they have is in alignment with our fraternity’s mission.”

Black men are more likely than their white counterparts to get prostate cancer and are twice as likely to die from the disease, states the National Cancer Institute. Omega Psi Phi hopes the partnership with Black Health Matters will change that. “Because we are a fraternity of African American men, it is our duty to break the stigma on getting our prostates checked. In this partnership, we get the information from Black Health Matters and share it at chapter meetings,” Harris said.

The fraternity, which has 750 chapters in the United States and 14 other countries, has also partnered with the American Diabetes Association because diabetes continues to plague the Black community. African American adults are 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. ”I am a type 2 diabetic, and I understand that we need to get that information out,” Harris said. “We share information on how to avoid diabetes with healthy eating and exercise, how to treat it if you have it, and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

Mental health is the cornerstone of the partnership, said the fraternity’s Grand Basileus David Marion, a psychologist who practices in Jackson, Mississippi. As a trained clinician, Marion has seen the impact of mental illness on the Black community. The fraternity has a solid background in programming that targets mental health.

After traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Omega Psi Phi leaders joined Brother You’re On My Mind, a program started under the administration of former President Barack Obama. The purpose of that program is to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness and to encourage black men to get help once they are diagnosed with a mental illness, Marion said.

“We bring experts into local chapter meetings to discuss signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse,” Marion said. “We offer information on available resources in local areas where one can go to get help.” 

In addition, the fraternity has a program called “Called A Brother Wednesday,” Harris said.  With this program, brothers call three or four other members each Wednesday to check on them. “We need to make sure that we’re OK during this quarantine with COVID-19, and not just our senior members,” he said.

Younger members of the fraternity are taking the partnership with Black Health Matters and other initiatives very seriously, according to Marion. “We’ve shared the information at conclaves, at the international undergraduate summit, local chapter meetings and leadership meetings,” he said. “The response has been great. I’ve even heard from brothers who say they have done interventions with family members and offer to get them the help they need.”

In the future, the fraternity plans to create joint chapter health programs with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a partnership delayed because of COVID-19, Marion said. “We hope to spread the message of good health, mental and physical, to our brothers—and to residents of our communities,” Marion said.

—Beverly James

The post Black Health Matters Partners With Omega Psi Phi to Promote Physical, Mental Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

According to the study, the proportion of white participants in prostate cancer clinical trials has largely remained unchained for the past three decades—tracking higher than 80 percent since 1990—while the proportion of black men in these trials decreased from 11.3 percent in 1995 to 2.8 percent in 2014. This is in spite of the widespread knowledge that black men are more likely to be diagnosed with and die from prostate cancer than their white counterparts.

“In the United States, less than 60 percent of prostate cancer cases occur in non-Hispanic white men, and roughly 22 percent of cases occur in non-Hispanic black men,” said Emily Rencsok, an M.D. and Ph.D. student at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston and lead author of the study. “However, when we analyzed the diversity of enrollment in nearly 60 prostate cancer clinical trials, we found that over 96 percent of participants were white.”

Medical professional must acknowledge the extent of underrepresentation of minority men in prostate cancer clinical trials so they can find better ways to support their enrollment in future trials, Rencsok said. “Black men have a disproportionate burden of prostate cancer incidence and mortality compared with white men, and the increased enrollment of black men in prostate cancer clinical trials will help us to learn more about these racial disparities, which could ultimately lead to improved treatment options for this patient population.”

Previous analyses have shown there have been too few black men participating in clinical trials, but these studies were often focused on a specific type of prostate cancer and were limited to a small number of clinical trials. “By analyzing a larger number of prostate cancer clinical trials, we were able to conduct a comprehensive review of enrollment,” Rencsok said. “Further, we could evaluate if the diversity of enrollment in these clinical trials has changed over time.”

For this study, multi-institutional researchers analyzed 72 global phase 3 and 4 prevention, screening and treatment clinical trials for patients with prostate cancer with enrollment start dates between 1987 and 2016. Of these 72 trials, 59 had available race data, comprising approximately 844,000 participants. Roughly 20 percent of these trials were publicly funded, while the remaining 80 percent were funded by pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. Four screening trials were conducted in Canada or Europe, and the remaining 55 trials were conducted globally with primary centers in the United States.

Of the 59 trials analyzed, 51 were treatment trials, four were prevention trials and four were screening trials. The researchers found the vast majority of participants in each of these three categories were non-Hispanic white men, comprising 83.4 percent, 84.6 percent and 97.5 percent of the participants in the treatment, prevention and screening trials, respectively. The black men category had the second highest enrollment, comprising 6.7 percent, 8.5 percent and 0.5 percent of the participants in the treatment, prevention and screening trials, respectively. Overall, more than 96 percent of the participants enrolled in these clinical trials were non-Hispanic white men.

When researchers analyzed the diversity of enrollment over time, they found the proportion of black men enrolled in prostate cancer clinical trials decreased from 11.3 percent in 1995 to 2.8 percent in 2014. Further, the researchers found the proportion of white participants in these clinical trials has largely remained higher than 80 percent since 1990.

“In recent decades, we have continued to learn about the racial disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality, yet our trial enrollment is mostly comprised of white men and does not reflect the populations that are most affected by this disease,” Rencsok said. “We hope this study broadly calls attention to the drastic underrepresentation of minority men in prostate cancer clinical trials, despite the increasing evidence of the racial disparities that exist in prostate cancer incidence and outcomes in these minority populations. I think that we, as both a scientific and a clinical community, need to continue to dedicate intentional and specific resources toward the recruitment of underrepresented men into trials. Further, we should focus efforts into supporting the clinical trial infrastructure in the medical centers that predominantly serve underrepresented populations, both in the United States and globally.”

Nearly 200 clinical trials were excluded from researchers’ analyses due to lack of available results, representing a limitation of this study.

The post Black Men Left Out of Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The American Cancer Society recommends at least 150 minutes of vigorous exercise a week for survivors. This is news that should be taken to heart by many black cancer patients because they have a higher risk of dying from their disease than other racial or ethnic groups. But, researchers said, black cancer survivors have lower levels of physical activity.

“Identifying barriers to participation in regular exercise and developing interventions to reduce these barriers in African American cancer survivors will be critical for improving outcomes in this population and minimizing cancer health disparities,” said lead author Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer in a news release from the journal Cancer.

Beebe-Dimmer is co-leader of the Population Studies and Disparities Research Program at Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine, both in Detroit.

This study included 1,500 black survivors of the four most common cancers (lung, breast, prostate and colon) who completed a survey with a follow-up a year later. Of those, 60 percent reported regular physical activity, but only 24 percent said they got at least 150 minutes per week. There were no differences by gender. Prostate cancer survivors in the study were the most likely to report being physically active; lung cancer survivors reported the least amount of physical activity.

Survivors who got exercise regularly reported higher health-related quality of life, as well as lower rates of depression. Increases in physical activity during the study also correlated with better quality of life.

Overall, the average amount of moderate-to-vigorous activity rose from 76 minutes at the start of the study to 110 minutes a year later. Only 25 percent of survivors met ACS recommendations at the beginning of the study, compared with 34 percent at the one-year follow-up.

The post Black Cancer Survivors Get Real Boost From Exercise appeared first on Black Health Matters.

For the second straight year, the PCF and Young’s team, the Atlanta Hawks, are spearheading a campaign throughout February to shed light on the disproportionate risk of prostate cancer for African American men, to promote prostate health screenings, steer men to resources on the issue and raise money for research. 

The Hawks Foundation is donating $250 for every assist the team records, and because Young was named an All-Star starter and participated in the Rising Stars game for first- and second-year players, the foundation decided to donate the same for every assist in those two games, too.

“That came up as we saw the fan voting wrapping up and knew (Young) was going to be a starter. It made sense,” Hawks foundation executive director David Lee said with a laugh. “It was a very easy decision to arrive at.”

From one team last year, seven NBA teams (Atlanta, Brooklyn, Chicago, Detroit, Indiana, Philadelphia and Phoenix) and one NHL team, the New Jersey Devils, are hosting campaigns this year. The Devils joined in part because they and the 76ers have the same owner, Josh Harris. Since assists in the NBA and NHL are so different, the Devils are matching whatever the Hawks raise this month.

“One owner we spoke to had said three teams [participating this year] would be a huge success, and we got eight,” said PCF chief operating officer Christine Jones. “I’m hoping next year we get into all 30.”

Jones had seen the long-term success of the PCF’s Home Run Challenge with Major League Baseball each June, not only with fundraising but also with a measurable increase in screening requests that followed. 

“Even though they are the opposite demographic, we thought we could get the same results with a collaboration with the NBA,” Jones said, noting the 75 percent of NBA players of African descent and the league attracting the largest black viewership of any major pro sports league.

“It’s an opportunity to use basketball to push and grow the message,” Lee said. “We felt like our basketball lens would have a significant impact on it.”

Atlanta was a natural to kick-start the campaign in February 2019. Hall of Fame player Grant Hill, a member of the ownership group, filmed a public service announcement with his father, NFL legend Calvin Hill, and the assist challenge raised $73,750, with the owners matching it to bring it to $150,000. According to the Hawks, the 30-second spot was viewed on social media more than 93,000 times during the month.

Grant Hill recorded a PSA for this season as well. At the All-Star break, the Hawks were on pace to top last year.

And with Young’s seven assists in the Rising Stars game and 10 in the All-Star Game, the chances are even greater.

—David Steele

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 The topics of the joint program from Black Health Matters and Kappa Alpha Psi were prostate cancer, lung cancer, clinical trials and stigma in the African American community, and Rivers, director of the Cancer Health Equity Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine, pulled no punches when it came to challenging health disparities.

His institution, he said, has done a great job of studying what drives disparities and understanding why African Americans are disproportionally impacted by almost every chronic condition in this country.

“What is so different about how we interact with the community versus our white counterparts to produce such adverse health outcomes?” he asked. “Is it the construction of our community? Is it the policy that governs our community? Is it our individual behaviors or even our genetics that increases our risk? Is it an access issue? Is it fear? Or is it some other factors that are causing these sort of adverse outcomes we’re seeing? I find a lot of the disparities we talk about unacceptable.”

That’s why Rivers has devoted his career to studying them.

Clinically, inequalities in care are attributable to access to clinical care, as well as to quality of care received, he explained. “We know that quality is measured based on whether an individual receives guideline-recommended care and whether they are treated at facilities that have the experience and infrastructure to care for cancer patients.”

Even at facilities with a robust infrastructure, like Morehouse School of Medicine, researchers still see only a small percentage of minority patients.

Precision medicine, a form of medicine that uses information about a person’s genes, proteins and environment to prevent diagnose and treat disease, has transformed cancer for many patients, Rivers said. “It has also brought attention to a lack of racial and ethnic diversity in human genomic studies. Translation: While the federal government is spending all this money on advancing precision medicine, not all individuals have benefitted from those advances.”

This is in spite of the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993, which mandated women and members of minority groups be included in all NIH-supported research. Nearly 30 years after the act passed, minorities are still underrepresented. “Especially those who are bearing a disproportionate burden of disease, such as African Americans,” Rivers said.

Case in point: African Americans make up 14 percent of the U.S. population. African American men are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer. But our men made up less than 10 percent of participants in clinical trials that led to recent FDA approvals of two cancer drugs for prostate cancer.

“Will African Americans be responsive to the therapies if they weren’t involved in the research? How can we have confidence in the therapeutics that emerge as a result of these clinical trials if we’re not included?” he asked. “We have to come up with real strategies that work to ensure cancer therapeutics are safe and effective for everyone who will use them. That’s the role of clinical trials. It’s vital participants in clinical trials represent the entire population who may use them.”

One strategy is to make sure clinical trial cohorts recruit from southern states, where most African Americans live. We also need to have the confidence and health literacy to engage with our health care providers. 

Ask “‘Should I be screened annually or every six months? Is my provider tracking my PSA velocity? How is my PSA trending over time? I’m a former smoker; will this affect my therapy. I stopped smoking cigarettes but now I’m smoking marijuana.’ These are the questions you have to ask your health care provider to understand your risk and the strategy you need,” Rivers said. “It’s health disparities versus health equity. Giving people what they need, when they need it in the right amount—that’s health equity.”

The post Precision Medicine Doesn’t Trickle Down appeared first on Black Health Matters.

It is no coincidence that in the numerous studies done over the last two decades on why the disparities in prostate health and treatment still exist, black urologists are regularly part of the research teams and study authors. And the odds are strong that those urologists are members of the R. Frank Jones Urologic Society, a professional organization of black urology specialists named for the pioneering long-time head of urology at Howard University Medical School and medical director of what was long known as Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington.

The group’s current president, Tracy Downs, M.D., of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, co-authored one of the more recent studies, in 2017. A study by the medical school of cancer rate disparities in Wisconsin over a roughly two-decade span, concluded that black men had a 71 percent higher chance than white men of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and a 73 percent higher chance of death.

Meanwhile, according to a 2015 study, only 7.5 percent of the overall pool of applicants to urology programs are African Americans, and they represent just 4 percent to 5 percent of urology residents and 1percent to 2 percent of urology faculty members. 

Among all the increases in cancer rates revealed by the 2017 study, “prostate uniquely jumps off the page,’’ Downs said in an interview appearing on the Wisconsin medical school’s website.

As much of it stemmed from black men not getting screened and hearing either mixed messages about whether to do so or no message at all. “If the message would have come from someone they trust, someone who lives in their community, giving advice on the benefits of the exam, they would have more likely heard it and acted on it,” Downs added.

That’s where the still-low number of urologists come in, and the importance of the R. Frank Jones group, which belongs to both the National Medical Association and the American Urological Association. The teaching and mentorship of Jones (1897-1979), who retired in 1970 after 47 years, and whose teaching and mentoring his namesake society yearns to duplicate.

A 2013 report by the AUA said that 50 percent of black urology residents had other black residents present during their training. Just as with a potential prostate patient, the impact of seeing one’s own in the practice is clear, statistically—and anecdotally.

“While I was in college I met some good role models who suggested I consider medicine,’’ Downs recalled in an earlier interview, “and an African American pediatrician played a critical role in my getting into medical school.’’

—David Steele

The post We Need More Black Urologists appeared first on Black Health Matters.

It’s a common belief that if cancer doesn’t run in your family, it’s unlikely you’ll receive a cancer diagnosis. But this is a myth.

According to the National Cancer Institute, only 5 percent to 10 percent of cancers are hereditary. That means about 90 percent of cancers are caused by other factors.

A significant proportion of that 90 percent comes from habits you do or don’t do. In fact, the American Cancer Society says we cause more than 40 percent of these cases of cancer.

Several factors that increase the risk of cancer are out of our control:

• Age. The incidence of cancer rises as you age. About 52 percent of the cases are diagnosed in people between the ages of 55 and 74. Cancer in folks younger than age of 34 is relatively uncommon by comparison.
• Environment. You have to breathe, and you have no say over burning fossil fuels or other air pollutants.
• Race and gender. You can’t influence your race or your gender. For instance, African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with—and to die from—pancreatic cancer than folks of other races. Black men, for reasons still not fully understood, suffer the highest incidence of prostate cancer. Black women are more likely to contract aggressive and deadly forms of breast cancer.

Some factors, however, you can control, some behaviors you can change–meaning some tweaks can help prevent cancer. The problem is that too many of us see genetically modified foods, hormones in beef, stress and other myths and falsehoods as the major culprits behind cancer. But every two years the American Institute for Cancer Research publishes its Cancer Risk Awareness Survey, and the results show while 93 percent of respondents know tobacco increases cancer risk, less than 40 percent attributed cancer to alcohol, processed and red meats, diet, and inactivity.

Smoking. The largest controllable factor contributing to cancer is tobacco. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths, accounting for about 1,300 deaths every day in this country. Smokers don’t suffer alone; more than 41,000 deaths each year are the result of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Most of us know smoking is related to cancers of the lung, mouth and throat, but tobacco is an equal opportunity offender, affecting nearly every organ in the body. “This is one of the most potent ways of delivering a toxic substance,” said Christopher Lathan, who specializes in lung cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

This is no surprise, since tobacco smoke contains 250 harmful chemicals, at least 69 of which can cause cancer, according to the NCI. Switching to cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco isn’t any safer. All tobacco use is linked to some form of cancer.

So why do people still smoke? It’s addictive, and nicotine is one of the hardest drugs to give up. Still, quitting is the best option. “The single best thing you can do is stop smoking,” Lathan said. “Over time the risk decreases.”

It may take more than 10 attempts to quit, so don’t be shy about seeking help. For assistance and advice on quitting smoking:

• Smokers’ Helpline: 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)
• National Cancer Institute’s Smoking Quitline: 877-448-7848
• American Cancer Society’s Quit for Life: 800-227-2345
• Smokefree

Obesity. The second most significant risk factor of cancer is obesity, according to the AICR. It accounts for nearly 7 percent of all cancer deaths. That is especially concerning since the prevalence of obesity in this country keeps growing, standing around 40 percent right now, and it is more common in black folks.

Fat might be thought of as just unwanted extra pounds, but actually it is linked to 13 different cancers. Why? Fat produces estrogen, which in excess can increase the risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancers, especially in post-menopausal women.

Alcohol. What’s the harm in having a glass of wine with dinner or a beer while watching the game? That depends on how many you have. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says limit alcoholic drinks to one drink a day for women and two for men. How much is a drink? It’s probably much less than you think: 12 ounces of beer; 5 ounces of wine; and 1.5 ounces, or a shot, of 80-proof liquor, such as scotch.

But a glass of wine holds 22 ounces, and a stein of beer 44 ounces. So your nightly glass of wine or beer with the fellas is actually four servings. It’s the amount of alcohol, not the type of alcoholic drink, that increases risk. Excessive alcohol, especially in tandem with smoking, is linked mostly to cancers of the head, neck and esophagus, but also can lead to cancers of the breast, colon and liver.

Diet and inactivity. About 5 percent of preventable causes of cancer are attributed to a sedentary lifestyle, especially for women, and poor diet. You don’t need to train for a marathon to reap cancer prevention benefits. Thirty minutes a day of moderate-intensity physical activity—think: walking—is enough. Marry that movement with a healthy diet of fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes and nuts, and you’ll make significant headway toward preventing cancer. Nutritionists suggest limiting red meat to 12 ounces a week, while avoiding processed meats, such as bacon and ham, almost entirely. Both are linked to colon cancer.

Infectious disease. Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted virus. A CDC report found that almost half of all sexually active men and women in this country will contract the sexually transmitted infection at some point in their lives. Our immune systems kill most cases of it, but when HPV persists, it can result in cancer of the cervix, vagina, penis, throat and anus. Fortunately, the FDA-approved HPV vaccination can prevent most infections. Gardasil 9 has been approved for females and males between the ages of nine and 45.

Skin cancer. We tend to think skin cancer isn’t an issue for us, but research shows survival rates of melanoma, the more deadly form of skin cancer, are lower in black folks. That means everybody, including us, should use sunscreen, avoid the sun when it’s at its strongest, and wear protective clothing and sunglasses when outdoors. Year-’round, folks. And check unusual moles or changes in your skin annually.

Screenings. Detecting cancers in the early stage when treatment is more successful can be a simple as getting screened. Even better: Tests for cervical and colon cancer often find pre-cancerous changes in cells before they have the chance to transition into cancer, making this an easy method to prevent cancer.

All of these steps taken together can do a lot to help keep you cancer free. Even if you can change only one of these behaviors, you are on the right path. “Prevention decreases risk,” Lathan said.

The post Prevent Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

​We believe when people are empowered patients who act as experts in their own health care, they better meet their wellness goals. Studies show being proactive about one’s own health not only results in better health care; it also strengthens the body’s natural self-repair mechanisms and helps fend off illness. ​

Through health education and engagement programs, Black Health Matters, the leading syndicator of original content on African American health, is committed to teaching African Americans how to take control of their health into their own hands. ​

We’re launching ProActive Health for African Americans with the 4th Black Health Matters Summit because we are uniquely qualified to do so. 

The 4th Black Health Matters Summit will showcase world-class health leaders who engage with the community in intimate roundtables and workshops on the latest trends and innovation in African American health. Topics include breast cancer, clinical trials, colon cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hereditary hATTR amyloidosis, HIV, lung cancer, mental health, prostate cancer, sickle cell disease and more. Registrants can also take advantage of free health screenings.

The post ProActive Health: 4th Black Health Matters Summit appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The finding, recently published in the Journal of Urology, comes from a large research collaboration known as the Canary Prostate Active Surveillance Study, or Canary PASS, led by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

“I think this is good news for African American men,” said Daniel Lin, principal investigator of the Canary PASS cohort, the large patient registry that has fueled the decade-long prostate cancer initiative.

“There have been some conflicting reports as to whether it’s safe to use active surveillance in African American men,” Lin said. “One report said they might have slightly higher rates of finding worse cancers during active surveillance, but that was a smaller study.
“We had more African American men in our cohort and found there was no difference between the men who did active surveillance; no difference between blacks and whites.”

Around a third of early stage prostate cancers are slow growing and thus are low risk. Radical treatments aren’t necessarily beneficial in these cases; instead, these men can be monitored through “active surveillance,” the standard of care recommended by national cancer organizations such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

In this approach, men diagnosed with early-stage disease receive regular PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing, biopsies and digital-rectal exams to keep tabs on their cancer. Active surveillance is different from another less-vigilant approach often used in older men called “watchful waiting.”

“Active surveillance is for those who are able to recognize their tumor is not aggressive and might not even need to be treated,” said Lin. “We follow them and do surveillance with PSAs and serial biopsies and other tests since prostate cancer can go from low risk to higher risk.”
Lin said that out of 100 patients who start active surveillance, 50 percent will go on to have treatment within the first 10 years.
“But half are still free of being treated,” he said. “The men in this study are hoping to avoid treatment because of side effects such as incontinence or leakage or erectile dysfunction.”

Treatment for prostate cancer usually involves a radical prostatectomy and/or radiation, and each treatment approach can come with considerable collateral damage.

“We know that for decades we overtreated men with low-grade prostate cancer,” Lin said. “We caused a lot of comorbidity—physical damage—and a lot of sexual dysfunction. More than half of men with prostate cancer will live with it and die with it. Not of it.”

Lin and fellow Canary PASS researchers—11 study sites are involved in the collaboration—hope to curb over treatment of the disease by better utilizing practices like active surveillance.

Participants in the Canary PASS cohort are early stage prostate cancer patients who agree to undergo active surveillance in lieu of treatment for up to five years or until their cancer progresses. Participating sites have so far gathered demographic, lifestyle, quality-of-life and long-term outcome data on more than 2,100 men; the database also holds their germline DNA, blood, urine and prostate tissue.
The rich databank helps drive the creation of new tools and tests to better assess both the risk for and presence of aggressive prostate disease. It also helps researchers identify who can safely practice active surveillance and who cannot.
“African Americans are diagnosed with prostate cancer at a higher rate and they die from prostate cancer at a higher rate, so it’s been hotly debated as to whether active surveillance is appropriate for them,” said Lisa Newcomb, a Hutch cancer prevention researcher who serves as Canary PASS deputy director.

Researchers wanted to dispel the uncertainty about using active surveillance in African Americans, so Lin, Newcomb and others, including Pete Nelson, who holds the Endowed Chair for Prostate Cancer Research at the Hutch, dug into the Canary PASS cohort to look at data from more than 1,300 men, 89 of whom self-identified as African American.

All the men had similar diagnoses and a family history of prostate cancer; all experienced the same number of follow-up biopsies and PSA tests.
After following the men for a median of 3.9 years and analyzing all of their data, the researchers found race was not a factor in determining whether a man’s cancer would become more aggressive.

“Our findings contradict what some earlier studies have published,” Newcomb said. “In places where the follow-up is really good and adhered to, African Americans appear to do fine. One of the strong points of our cohort is we have a protocol and we have high adherence to that protocol—we have a bunch of loyal patients and a bunch of loyal coordinators and doctors.”

Newcomb said all the men in the Canary PASS cohort got PSAs and got them on time; they also got biopsies and got those on time.

“Active surveillance works as long as they’re active and being surveilled,” she said. “That’s a very important point.”
Lin added that even black men who decided to go ahead with a radical prostatectomy did not show signs of more aggressive disease.
“We looked at the pathology after their surgery by race,” Lin said. “Even in that small number of men, it did not show any difference. When we compared a subset who started out with active surveillance and went on to radical prostatectomy and compared black and white men, the rates of adverse or aggressive pathology were similar across the board.”

Both Newcomb and Lin acknowledged the length of follow-up in their study was modest—less than five years—and that the cohort included a relatively small number of African Americans, but they said it was still the largest study to date of black prostate cancer patients using active surveillance.

They also said the PASS cohort has grown since they initially collected data for this particular study.

“With our new funding from the National Cancer Institute, we now have 200 African Americans in our cohort,” Newcomb said.

The researchers hope the addition of more black men will make the Canary PASS cohort even more powerful than it already is.

“Health disparities in prostate cancer have been a problem for decades,” Lin said. “Many of the studies are just of whites. We’ve been targeting locations that have a higher representation of black men and hope to double the number of African Americans in our active surveillance study.”

Lin said it’s also crucial to continue to accrue participants because the science is ever evolving.

“They didn’t start using MRIs with prostate cancer until we were six or seven years into this study,” he said. “A new biomarker might be discovered this year. If we don’t have recent patients in the cohort, we become outdated. So we try to keep accruing a steady stream of new patients. We could easily get to 3,000 patients and the last 1,000 would be different patients as far as the way they were diagnosed and treated.

“There is no horizon because the field does change,” he said. “And we’re intent on still enrolling patients because we have many other avenues to study.”

From Fred Hutch News

The post Black Men With Early Stage Prostate Cancer Can Delay Radical Treatment appeared first on Black Health Matters.

And while that often used to be the case, survivorship programs, like the one at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, offer counseling and interventions to promote sexual recovery after cancer treatment.

“Prostate cancer, especially if it’s caught early, is a highly treatable disease,” says Daniela Wittmann, an associate professor of urology and social work at U-M, and a certified sex therapist with more than 30 years of experience. “But that also means that men are often living for a long time and dealing with the side effects of treatment.”

U-M’s David and Jan Brandon Prostate Cancer Survivorship Program is devoted to helping men—and their partners—manage those side effects, the most disruptive of which are urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

“What we do is that we help men and their partners manage expectations for what the side effects of treatment are going to be like,” Wittmann says. “Before treatment, we tell them about the rehabilitation that’s available, and then after treatment, we are there as a team to support them and to help them with rehabilitation—the physiological, emotional, relationship aspects as they relate to intimacy.”

While more than 90 percent of men will largely recover bladder control within a year, recovery of erectile function is a longer and more variable process, she says. It can take two or more years to recover, depending on a patient’s starting level of function, age and the specifics of their surgical procedure, she says.

Before surgery, patients and their partners are invited to hear from a multidisciplinary team, as well as other prostate cancer survivors, about side effects and rehabilitation opportunities. And starting about six weeks after surgery, patients and their partners are invited to meet with members of a care team that includes a sex therapist.

“The goal is to understand what the patient is experiencing and to assess how their side effects are evolving,” Wittmann says. “We help men and their partners feel emotionally supported, to process any sense of grief and loss, which are natural and common, and to help them re-engage sexually if that’s important to them.”

Without such support, men are far less likely to try available interventions, she notes.

“Penile rehabilitation doesn’t necessarily help men recover erectile function, but it helps keep the tissues healthy while they’re waiting for a natural response to return,” Wittmann says. “It also helps men remain engaged in their sexual recovery.”

The psychological and emotional side effects can weigh as heavily as the physical side effects, she says.

“It sometimes means overcoming barriers because people experience feelings of loss around spontaneous sex—like sex is too much work when they have to use sexual aids,” Wittmann says. “We tend to say to them, spontaneity can be replaced with anticipation. You can have dates where you know you’re going to be making love and you can plan something fun.”

Bladder cancer patients also often experience similar side effects, she notes. And may have additional body image issues that would benefit from support if they now have a stoma on their stomach.

Not all hospitals and cancer centers offer similar survivorship programs, and Wittmann recommends that men and their partners speak with their doctors about what resources may be available in their area.

The post Yes, You Can Have Sex After Prostate Surgery appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Several studies of men in countries where the diet is largely made up of red meat show the incidence of prostate cancer, especially an aggressive strain, is higher than in countries where people eat more plant-based foods. While the studies didn’t prove cause and effect, researchers are actively looking into this issue, including with the Men’s Eating and Living study.

In the MEAL study, which included men 50 to 80 years of age with early-stage prostate cancer, investigators tried to determine whether a diet high in plant-based foods and lower in animal-based foods would help control tumor growth.

Study participants in the MEAL group ate nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day, more than the three to four servings the typical American man eats daily, as well as two servings of whole grains and one serving of beans or other legumes. Participants in the control group ate a standard healthy diet.

Preliminary results showed men with prostate cancer can maintain healthier eating, but there was no significant effect of the MEAL diet on two-year clinical progression among men on active surveillance for cancer. Researchers concluded that longer term benefits are still possible. We say hooray to anything that gets men to increase their intake of fruits and vegetables!

The post Fight Prostate Cancer With Food appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A moderate or intense exercise program may improve a man’s odds of prostate cancer survival, according to a new study.

The study, from the American Cancer Society, analyzed more than 10,000 men, aged 50 to 93, who were diagnosed between 1992 and 2011 with localized prostate cancer (meaning it had not spread beyond the prostate gland). The men reported information about their physical activity before and after their diagnosis.

Unsurprisingly, participants with the highest levels of exercise prior to diagnosis were 30 percent less likely to die of their prostate cancer than those who exercised the least, according to a team led by Ying Wang, senior epidemiologist at the ACS’s epidemiology research program.

Even better: The more the men exercised the bigger the benefit. Men with the highest levels of exercise after diagnosis were 34 percent less likely to die of prostate cancer than those who did the least exercise, the study found.

Though the study didn’t prove cause-and-effect, “our results support evidence that prostate cancer survivors should adhere to physical activity guidelines, and suggest that physicians should consider promoting a physically active lifestyle to their prostate cancer patients,” Wang said.

The researchers also studied the effects of walking as the sole form of exercise and found that walking for four to six hours a week before diagnosis was also associated with a one-third lower risk of death from prostate cancer. But timing was crucial, since walking after a diagnosis was not associated with a statistically significant lower risk of death.

“The American Cancer Society recommends adults engage in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week,” Wang said. “These results indicate that following these guidelines might be associated with better prognosis.”

Experts aren’t surprised by the findings. Physical activity benefits all aspects of health, and this study reinforces that a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, is an aspect of post-cancer outcome patients can control.

The study also confirms what a growing body of evidence has found: Regular exercise is associated with better outcomes for several forms of cancer—including breast, colon, lung and prostate—as well as improving cardiovascular health, quality of life and an overall ability to fight disease.

For reasons we don’t quite understand, incidence rates of prostate cancer are significantly higher in African-American men than in men of other races. In fact, African-American men may have the highest rates of prostate cancer in the world. And our men are more than twice as likely to die of the disease as white men in this country.

The post Regular Exercise May Boost Prostate Cancer Survival appeared first on Black Health Matters.

In a new study, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center discovered that when aggressive prostate tumors turn off the receptor, their source for growth-fueling hormones, they ramp up a different growth-promoting system. When the scientists targeted this pathway in mouse models of prostate cancer, the mice lived longer.

“We figured out the mechanism by which [tumors lacking androgen receptor continue growing] … and that may be a therapeutic vulnerability,” said Hutch prostate cancer researcher and oncologist Dr. Andrew Hsieh, who led the study, which was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Hsieh also treats patients with prostate cancer at the University of Washington Medical Center.

In the short term, the findings could help explain why a certain class of experimental drugs has so far failed to produce results in clinical trials. In the longer term, the results could help oncologists select the right patients to treat with these drugs and pave the way for more targeted treatments.

Androgen-receptor–low prostate cancer: a growing threat

Most prostate tumors rely on the androgen receptor, or AR, which binds testosterone and related hormones, to grow and survive. Recently developed drugs, which potently block either AR or androgen production, have extended life expectancy for patients whose aggressive prostate tumors have grown resistant to other forms of treatment.

First rolled out in 2012, the drugs — which include enzalutamide and abiraterone — still aren’t a permanent cure. And when tumors recur, they find new escape routes. In 2017, Hsieh’s Hutch colleague Dr. Pete Nelson showed that after 2012, oncologists started seeing that in men whose disease had returned after treatment, significantly more tumors had rewired their molecular pathways to circumvent the need for AR. The results presented scientists with a double conundrum: First, how do the tumors continue to thrive without AR? And second, how can these tumors without AR be targeted with new treatments?

To Hsieh’s mind, answering the first question would help answer the second.

“If we can understand this process better, we might be able to find therapeutic targets,” he said.

Prostate tumors release molecular brake on growth

He and lab technicians Yuzhen Liu and Jessie Horn began digging to see how the new type of prostate cancer, dubbed androgen-receptor–low, or AR-low, had rewired itself. To do so, they drew on prostate cancer cells growing in lab dishes, a mouse model of the disease, patient tissue specimens, and cancer cells taken from patients with this type of tumor that are then grown in mice.

AR works by turning specific genes on. The team discovered that AR has competing effects: Sometimes it turns on genes that promote tumor growth, and sometimes it turns on genes that rein it in. When drug-resistant tumors jettison AR, they release this molecular brake and allow a growth-promoting cell-signaling pathway to compensate for others that are lost.

The molecular brake the researchers identified is known as 4EBP1. This protein works to keep production of a select group of growth-promoting proteins in low gear. By shutting off AR, tumors also shut off 4EBP1. Then, the cell’s production of these proteins shifts into overdrive. Tumor growth goes wild.

“The biggest finding at the molecular level is that the androgen receptor [in addition to turning genes on] … actually regulates protein synthesis,” Hsieh said.

Turning prostate cancer’s strength into a weakness

Hsieh, Horn and Liu realized that AR-low tumors’ over-reliance on signaling pathways usually restrained by 4EBP1 could be their downfall. To test this, the team used compounds that mimic 4EBP1’s activity to see how they affected tumor cells that lacked AR.

In lab dishes, the compounds killed AR-low prostate tumor cells, but not cells with high AR levels. The researchers also saw that these compounds reduced the growth of human AR-low prostate cancers growing in mice. After 30 days, only about 30 percent of untreated mice were alive, while all mice treated with the anti-4EBP1 compounds survived. The compounds had no effect on growth of tumors that still relied on AR.

“We found a link between androgen receptor and protein synthesis that is uniquely druggable in the context where androgen receptor is not present,” Hsieh said. “Ultimately we would love to target this vulnerability in patients with advanced-stage prostate cancer.”

The findings may also explain why a class of experimental prostate cancer drugs called mTOR inhibitors, which interfere with protein synthesis, failed in clinical trials. Though his suspicions remain to be confirmed, Hsieh theorizes that the problem may have been that the trials included patients whose tumors, unlike the AR-low tumors, were not so reliant on protein synthesis for growth. Selecting the right patients, he thinks, could make mTOR inhibitors, or similar drugs, a success.

Now, Hsieh and his team are working to better understand 4EBP1’s activity. And he hopes that their work could someday help oncologists select the patients whose tumors would be most vulnerable to treatments that target this weakness. Such drugs, Hsieh envisions, could be given alongside today’s potent AR blockers or inhibitors of androgen synthesis to slam the door to another route that prostate tumors can use to escape treatment. He is working to develop these next-generation therapeutics.

“I’m often asked by patients, ‘What’s new? What’s on the horizon?’” Hsieh said. “And what fuels the research that we do is that if we understand the disease better, we can push that horizon further. We can develop new therapeutics, which is really what this paper shows.”

The post Aggressive Prostate Tumors Have a Weakness appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Black Health Matters helped kick off Precision Oncology with these sobering statistics:

• Prostate cancer diagnosis and death rates among black men are the highest in the world.
• Discrepancies in health statistics for more than 17 million black men, compared to men of other races, highlight a great need to better address their causes.
• As a group, black men have the lowest life expectancy and the highest death rates compared to men and women of all other racial and ethnic groups.

BHM and Kappa Alpha Psi sought to put these numbers in an understandable framework with presentations from Edward Scott, D.D.S., Kappa Alpha Psi’s national health and wellness chair; Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins, M.D., a core investigator at the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion; Shinta Cheng, executive medical director, clinical oncology, Janssen Pharmaceuticals; Mark T. Fleming, M.D., president of Virginia Oncology Associates; and Leonard Gomella, M.D., senior director of clinical affairs at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Centers at Jefferson Health.

Presenters didn’t sugar coat anything. 

“Every day 274 people are dying due to issues of racism and health,” Dr. Jenkins said. “We still haven’t figured out how to have the conversation.”

Dr. Gomella spoke about the importance of minority participation in clinical trials. “African American men in some prostate cancer clinical trials have better outcomes than their white counterparts,” he said. “This is very encouraging, but we’d never know this if not for clinical trials.” 

Though the city of Philadelphia, where Dr. Gomella is based, has a nearly 60 percent success rate at recruiting black men into its prostate cancer clinical trials, nationwide, the numbers are poor. “Nationwide, only 4 percent to 12 percent of participants in prostate cancer clinical trials are minorities. We need to do a better job,” he said.

Precision Oncology reached 50,000 members of the fraternity, and an even greater number of Philadelphians through extensive media coverage on local TV, newspapers and radio, including ABC6, the Philadelphia Inquirer and 105.3 FM.

The initiative doesn’t stop here. Precision Oncology has created a national multiyear initiative to improve health literacy as it relates to clinical trials participation and prostate cancer. One objective is to get 10,000 men screened for prostate cancer over the next two years, with nationwide outreach activities scheduled, including in Atlanta and Houston.

The post Precision Oncology Goes Nationwide appeared first on Black Health Matters.

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July 25, 2019 – Black Health Matters, the leading integrated health and chronic disease management platform, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the preeminent African American fraternity, will partner to launch Precision Oncology, a prostate cancer and clinical trial education initiative at its 84th Grand Chapter meeting on July 31, 2019, from 10:00am to 12:00pm in room 108B of the Philadelphia Convention Center. This program will be implemented in partnership with the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health.  The goal of Precision Oncology is to educate African American men about the prevalence of prostate cancer while providing strategies for managing the disease.  There will be a focus on the importance of clinical trial participation as a way to increase therapeutic options that are effective in African American patients. Genentech and Janssen Research & Development, LLC, part of the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and  are stakeholders of this educational initiative.  This program is free and open to the public.

Prostate cancer can almost be considered an epidemic among black men. They have a 70% greater incidence of[1] prostate cancer and a two-fold greater risk of dying from prostate cancer versus white males. For too long, the collective health of Black men has not been a priority.  Black Health Matters and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. are committed to helping African American men live longer and healthier lives through education and advocacy.

Precision Oncology is a Black Health Matters Summit, a change-agent, advancing participatory medicine through the creation of a medical symposium tailored to meet the needs of African American patients, caregivers and gatekeepers interested in building capacity for their community. With expertise derived from years of serving as a definitive resource on health, Black Health Matters will work with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. over the next two years to replicate this program in key markets where the need is the greatest.

Through a series of presentations from experts Precision Oncology will address disparities in access to healthcare, strategies to improve health holistically while increasing health literacy, and decreasing stigma of help-seeking behavior within our community. The confirmed presenters are nationally recognized experts. The presenters include, Dr. Shinta Cheng, Executive Medical Director, Clinical Oncology, Janssen,  Dr.   Gomella, Clinical Director, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health and .Janice Hall Dean, President, National Silhouettes of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  Two members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  will present, Dr. Mark T. Fleming, President, Virginia Oncology Associates and  Dr. Dr. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins, Vice Provost, Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania. The Master of Ceremonies is Dr. Edward R. Scott, II, Kappa Alpha Psi’s Health & Wellness Committee National Chairman. Erin Coleman, Emmy Award winning journalist who currently anchors NBC10’s 5 o’clock evening newscast will moderate the program.

About Black Health Matters

Black Health Matters, (www.blackhealthmatters.com) is a digital health communications and patient event engagement firm that was founded in 2012. Black Health Matters (BHM) is an award-winning, premier web site that empowers thousands each week with information on the management of chronic disease.

About Kappa Alpha Psi

Kappa Alpha Psi is the nation’s leading fraternity, highly regarded for a wide variety of programs implemented annually that benefit African-American men and their communities. Founded in 1911, the college fraternity is now comprised of 700 plus Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters on major campuses and in cities throughout the world and has more than 150,000 members worldwide.

[1] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html

The post Black Health Matters and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Partner to Launch PRECISION ONCOLOGY Initiative appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Prostate cancer is also a very slow-growing cancer, with many men who have it dying of other causes.

So in 2011, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, in what it called a move to curb over-diagnosis and over treatment of prostate cancer, issued guidelines recommending against routine prostate specific antigen testing. The uproar over the revised guidelines was particularly not helpful for black men, who face a greater overall risk for the disease than men of other races. They also have the highest risk for aggressive forms of prostate cancer and death.

The Urology Care Foundation and the National Football League teamed up on the Know Your Stats campaign to fight prostate cancer by raising awareness.

Black Health Matters sat down with one of the campaign’s ambassadors, Pro Football Hall of Fame member and prostate cancer survivor Michael Haynes (he played for the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Raiders), to talk about the importance of prostate health.

Black Health Matters: Michael, you were diagnosed at a prostate cancer event at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Where you having symptoms that led you to getting tested? If so, what were they? 

Michael Haynes: I was screened just because the event was happening. I worked at the NFL at the time and had a physical earlier in the year, so I didn’t have a reason at all to get screened. My boss suggested I participate to encourage some of the other guys to get screened.

What did you know about prostate cancer before your screening?

MH: I’d never even heard of prostate cancer. I didn’t know what the prostate did. The doctor really scared me. He said one in five African American men would be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. The numbers shocked me because nobody’s talking about it. I asked the doctor about women and breast cancer, and he said one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

What did your screening show?

MH: I had cancer in nine of the 12 places where they checked my prostate.

Wow. Tell us about your journey since your diagnosis. What was your treatment? How has it affected your life?

MH: I had a radical prostatectomy. Because we caught it early, I had plenty of time to check out a lot of treatment options. My doctor and my wife and I decided a radical prostatectomy made the most sense. Going through the process was very difficult. Even though the doctors said we caught it early, I was thinking the worst; I was very depressed.

Since your diagnosis and treatment, what have you learned about the risks for prostate cancer? Does it run in your family?

MH: It ran in mine. I didn’t know that. If I had known, it might’ve made a difference in my life. My grandfather had it. I really didn’t have much of a relationship with him. I was a rookie in the NFL when he passed away. But I don’t even know if someone said he’d died of prostate cancer, if it would’ve meant anything to me at the time. We didn’t talk about health much in my family.

When did you decide to become a spokesperson?

MH: After the surgery and I got a clean bill of health, they asked me to be a spokesperson. I said yes because this disease is going to strike a lot of African American men. And because I hadn’t talked to a lot of African American men who knew about the disease. And I knew I’d have a lot of support from the NFL.

What has the response been?

MH: The response has been great. People are saying thank you. When I talk, I speak man to man. That’s what you have to do to get through to a lot of guys. We have to take it out of the back room. Other players have helped—speaking engagements at churches and barbershops, everywhere, to get the word out there. Guys like Harry Carson, Ronnie Lott and Deacon Jones, when they say, “Get up off your couch and get your prostate checked,” people listen. We’ve had a lot of success doing that. Every year we find another player at that event. We’ve had two hall of famers in the last eight months who have been diagnosed.

What do you tell people when you talk to them?

MH: The symptoms could be related to other diseases. [Symptoms like] decreased urine flow, getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, painful orgasm, feeling like you have to go but nothing comes out. They don’t have to be related to prostate cancer, but if you’re having a conversation with your doctor, he’s going to look at that and make sure it isn’t the case.

There’s been a lot of debate about PSA testing and whether or not men need to be screened. Does a high PSA mean you have prostate cancer?

MH: It does not mean you have it. What they’re looking for is a radical spike in your PSA. Mine went from 1 to 3.5 in a two-year period. I’ve talked to guys who’ve had more of a spike than that. The only real way to tell is to have a biopsy. That comes from a conversation with your doctor to decide.

There has been a reduction in the number of men [getting tested] because of the message that’s out there. What we’re saying is know your family history. Know your situation. Have a conversation with your doctor. If it runs in your family, have the conversation with your doctor when you’re young, maybe in your 30s or 40s. But you definitely need to be aware of it. A lot of men are going to have prostate cancer, but it doesn’t have to take their life.

What else do you want men to know about prostate cancer? 

MH: Know their risk. I want men who are survivors like me to make a difference by encouraging other men to get educated and to talk about it—if in no other month of the year than September [Prostate Cancer Awareness Month]. I’ve heard stories where the father died, the older brother has had surgery, the younger brother has been diagnosed, but no one’s talking about it. I’ve talked to guys who don’t know where the prostate is.

Women have an advantage because of childbearing. They’re talking about babies and health and how do you feel now. There’s nothing like that, that happens for men. We start talking about health when we’re in our 50s. That is a detriment. That’s unacceptable. Men need to get educated and take their health a lot more seriously.

The post Teaming Up to Fight Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Looking for a way to sidestep cancer? Try adding a few brisk walks and stair climbs to those side steps.

A recent study involving nearly 1.5 million participants has found that exercise—or as the researchers call it, a higher level of “leisure-time physical activity”—is associated with lower risk in a substantial number of cancers, bolstering previous evidence of exercise’s role in cancer risk reduction. The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, further indicate exercise can reduce the risk of cancer despite body size or smoking history. In other words, even if you’re overweight and a smoker, you can still cut down your cancer risk if you get up and move.

“Size matters in epidemiologic studies because it gives you greater power to detect associations and to examine effects in subgroups,” said Dr. Anne McTiernan, a cancer prevention researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. This study, she said, “was huuuuuge.”

Led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute, the epidemiological study cobbled together a dozen large U.S. and European prospective cohorts (groups of study participants who’d been followed for a number of years) in order to create a mega-pool of 1.44 million men and women. They then analyzed the participants’ information—their age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, self-reported data on exercise and, if applicable, cancer diagnoses—to determine the effect exercise had on various cancers. All told, 186,932 primary cancers were diagnosed during the follow up period (median follow-up was 11 years).

The evidence was significant. Exercise, already known to reduce the risk of heart disease and colon, breast and endometrial cancers, substantially lowered cancer risk in 13 of the 26 cancers examined, many by more than 20 percent.

And the benefit was much higher than that in some cases.

The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma dropped by a whopping 42 percent in people who were active, and exercise cut the risk of liver and lung cancer by 27 and 26 percent, respectively. Working out also led to a 23 percent reduced risk for kidney cancer and a 22 percent reduced risk for gastric cardia (a type of stomach cancer).

Other cancer risks dropped as follows: endometrial by 21 percent; myeloid leukemia by 20 percent; myeloma by 17 percent; colon by 16 percent; head and neck by 15 percent; rectal by 13 percent; bladder by 13 percent and breast by 10 percent.

Conversely, exercise increased the risk of malignant melanoma by 27 percent, although researchers believed this was due to increased sun exposure since this association was most often found in areas with high ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Exercise was also associated with a 5 percent bump in early stage prostate cancer but researchers chalked this up to the fact that physically active men are more likely to see a doctor and get screened than inactive men. The 5 percent rise, they concluded, was most likely “screening bias,” since there was no observed bump in advanced prostate cancers among active men.

Despite mountains of evidence showing the benefits of exercise, half the population of the U.S. does not meet the recommended physical activity levels (worldwide, the physical inactivity level is 31 percent).

According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s guidelines, for “substantial health benefits,” adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, with the exercise spread throughout the week rather than performed in one massive workout session. The guidelines also recommend strength-training that’s “moderate or high intensity and involves all major muscle groups” two days a week.

“The aerobics can be brisk walking,” McTiernan said. “[There’s] no need to become an athlete.”

But keep in mind: the more you exercise, the greater the health benefits. According to the U.S. guidelines, if you want more extensive health benefits, shoot for five hours a week of moderate-intensity exercise (or 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity).

McTiernan, who has conducted numerous studies on exercise as it relates to cancer prevention and survivorship, called the NCI study well-designed and well-conducted, and said the data used was from “very, well-respected cohort studies,” including the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study; the Swedish Cancer Society and NCI’s Women’s Lifestyle and Health Study; and the Women’s Health Study and Physicians’ Health Study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

There were some drawbacks, however. Although participants were fairly evenly split gender-wise, most of the participants were white, providing little information on the cancer-busting benefits of exercise in minorities. Information on the type of exercise was also limited, McTiernan said, with most of the activity recorded being aerobic (think running, walking, jogging or biking).

“It gives no information on associations with strength training,” she said. “Based on these findings, we can’t say what exercise and how much.”

She also noted the participants’ physical activity was all self-reported, which could be problematic since researchers have discovered that “people over-report their level of activity.”

Despite the drawbacks, McTiernan was enthusiastic about the findings and their public health implications.

“I’d say it’s one more reason to stay active,” she said. “It’s not a guarantee but it’s probably going to reduce risk for several cancers.”

And considering the bump in malignant melanoma, she added this advice: “Those who choose to exercise outdoors, which I highly recommend, need to use sun protection to avoid the adverse effect of sun on melanoma and other skin cancers.”

—Diane Mapes

From Fred Hutch News Service

The post Exercise Cuts Cancer Risk appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Like many other diseases, prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among men in this country, is especially hard on our men. In fact, black men are more likely to get prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from the disease.

Despite these statistics, new research suggests men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer are neglecting guidelines to monitor their condition.

A study of almost 350 North Carolina residents found only 15 percent who chose active surveillance followed the recommended guidelines.

To be fair, these guidelines are rigorous, calling for PSA tests every six months, an annual digital rectal exam and a prostate biopsy within 18 months of diagnosis. This is “so you can watch the cancer very closely,” said study co-author Ronald Chen, an associate professor from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill. “You don’t [want to] lose the opportunity to treat the cancer when it starts to grow.”

Among the study’s participants, 67 percent had a PSA test within six months of their diagnosis and 70 percent had a digital rectal exam. Only 35 percent had the biopsy during the first 18 months. Over a two-year period, a paltry 15 percent had undergone all the recommended tests.

The reasons why so few men followed the guidelines weren’t clear to researchers, who found no connection with age, income or race.

“This raises the question of whether we need to investigate whether active surveillance is a safe option when patients do not receive routine monitoring,” Chen said. “Our goal is not to reduce the number of patients choosing active surveillance; rather, the results of this study should increase awareness and efforts to ensure that active surveillance patients are monitored rigorously.”

Chen and his team also looked into why men would or wouldn’t choose active surveillance. They found that as their cancer began to progress, men opted for treatment. And men who were anxious about their cancer were more likely to stop active surveillance and switch to treatment.

The post Men Don’t Follow the Rules For Active Surveilance of Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

At age 55, Alan had a prostate cancer screening test, the PSA. It was normal. Two years later, it had inched up to the top of the normal range.  Although, he was getting annual physicals, his Caucasian, very well regarded internist in their very affluent suburban town told him that PSA testing was not reliable (this is not true!), he didn’t recommend them.

Life went on, a very good life, full of love, laughter, dancing, a blossoming family. Alan led an exceptionally physically fit lifestyle. He had been a disciplined runner since he was in his 30’s and engaged in other types of fitness activities such as lifting weights and tennis.

Following  his 70^th birthday celebration, he had a visit from his brother-in-law who was being treated for prostate cancer. When brought to Alan’s attention, he realized that he was having some symptoms (changes in urination). Alan’s wife, Yvonne, then insisted he bypass his internist, and they went to a local urologist who told him his PSA was 149.9, shockingly high. Because of the high number, he sought the best care possible and ended up with the Chief of Urology for a major NY hospital.  His PSA, just 3 weeks later, registered at 180. Stage 3B prostate cancer was the diagnosis, which began a path of treatment.  He started with Lupron, and 10 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week, driving from his home in Ridgewood to Manhattan and then to his office in Morristown, NJ, to work all day as a Chief Investment Officer, a grueling daily regime.

His PSA went down for a short time and then began to increase. Despite intense chemotherapy, immunotherapy, including participation in 2 clinical trials, the aggressive cancer spread throughout his body.  The pain and anguish of this debilitating cancer did not stop Alan from living his life to the fullest, welcoming a new grandbaby 9 weeks before he passed and singing his favorite song, “My Way” from his hospice bed.

Research indicates that prostate cancer is not an equal opportunity disease. According to the American Cancer Society, Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind lung cancer.  African-American men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it.

Black men are also more likely to be diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease—which is typically treated with surgery and radiation therapy. Yet, black men are less likely than white patients to seek treatment, and when they do, their doctors are more likely to recommend a watch-and-wait approach over surgery or radiation therapy. When diagnosed early, prostate cancer is treatable!

And note that the disparity in health care happens at all  socioeconomic levels.  Alan had good health insurance and doctors with good reputations.

Was Alan’s struggle with prostate cancer necessary?  Could this have been prevented had he been screened more frequently?  Would there have been a different outcome if he had been going to an African American physician?

We know Alan would have taken different actions if he had been made aware of the high incidence of prostate cancer among Black men and the benefits of PSA screening.

African American men do and should have different screening recommendations where screening begins at age 40, rather than age 55 for a white man without a family history of the disease. Heed this warning.  Don’t let distrust of the healthcare system or a Caucasian doctor that doesn’t make prostate cancer screening a priority stand in your way. Get screened regularly and live your life to the fullest!

The post Prostate Screening Is A Must appeared first on Black Health Matters.

For our men, it’s “the same story, only a little worse,” said Lewis Kampel, M.D., medical director of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care in New York City, New York, at the Third Black Health Matters Health Summit, held at Riverside Church in Harlem, New York, earlier this month. “The likelihood of getting prostate cancer is more than one and three-quarters times higher if you’re an African American man. The likelihood of dying is more than two times higher if you’re African American than in non-Hispanic white men. If you’re a Caribbean man of African descent, your risk of getting prostate cancer and dying from prostate cancer is even higher than in African American men. These numbers should raise red flags. People should be up in arms.”

We don’t know all of the reasons for these disparities, though that’s why the Ralph Lauren Center was established: to tackle disparities seen in Harlem and surrounding communities. What we do know, according to  Kampel, is that genetics play a factor. Beyond that, the environment, a high-fat diet, access to care and a cultural resistance to screening also could contribute.

We also know prevention is difficult. Men with early prostate cancer typically don’t have symptoms. “Most of symptoms men have are due to non-specific aging,” Kampel said. In other words, benign prostate disease and enlargement, also very common in black men.

This is why Kampel recommends screening for men having symptoms, including digital rectal exam, which picks up large tumors, and the controversial PSA test. In spite of guidelines directing PSA testing after age 55, African American men should start being screened a full decade and a half earlier, at age 40, Kampel said.

In fact, several large studies show screening reduces prostate cancer mortality, though the percentage of black men in those studies was quite low, only 3 percent to 5 percent. This stresses the importance of including more black men and women in trials.

It’s true we aren’t well represented in clinical trials. Experts attribute the lack of representation to everything from a distrust of the medical establishment to unconscious bias by white doctors when dealing with African American patients.

The solution to this lies in “addressing unconscious bias in medical training,” Kampel said. “Particularly in the cancer world, we need more African American doctors. I see student populations becoming more diverse, but for some reason, in medical oncology, it’s not a practice that appeals to African Americans. We need to make an effort to recruit them. If you see a team of doctors with diversity, the patient is much more comfortable and has more confidence in that team.”

If that team advocates for more participation in studies, especially prostate cancer studies with a focus on screening, so much the better.

“Screening works,” Kampel said, for detection and therapy. “The earlier the treatment the better for outcomes and side effects.”

That treatment includes active surveillance if the cancer isn’t aggressive and a man’s PSA is low; localized surgery and radiation, which could cause temporary urinary control issues and sexual dysfunction; or anti-hormone therapy, where the cancer is treated by reducing a man’s testosterone levels.

Now here comes the good news. “Cancer disparities in general are narrowing,” Kampel said, citing better access, better medical techniques and better information.

There’s even more reason for optimism in the face of a prostate cancer diagnosis. “African American men seem to do as good as or better than non-Hispanic white men with many of the treatment options,” he said.

And Kampel shared this final helpful observation to the women in the audience gathered at the health summit: Have your man’s back. “Women play a very important role in the management of prostate cancer,” he said. “Very often women are key in seeing their men through the difficult and challenging path prostate cancer patients follow.”

The post Dealing with Disparities in Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Brown then delved into how scientific research aimed at developing better treatments for specific diseases is being done all over the country every day, but she pulled no punches about the lack of inclusion of African Americans in this research.

“They say it’s all in the genes,” Brown said. “That’s very true. What’s in the genes is something about the type of cancer that African American men and women get is different than the type they have in Sweden. Prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, uterine cancer, multiple myeloma—these are the cancers with huge disparities. We need men and women of African descent to participate in trials.”

Brown also outlined how ageism can play a part in keeping us out of medical research.

“Government agencies say women after age 65 with adequate screenings for the previous five years, no longer need Pap smears,” Brown said. “This isn’t true. The death rates start increasing exponentially after age 65. Many of us are sexually active after age 65. If you have a cervix after age 65, you still need to get screened.”

But the biggest indicator of cancer diagnosis and survival? Poverty. It’s even bigger than race, Brown said. “If you have Medicaid, you do worse with breast cancer no matter what color you are, even worse than people with no insurance.

“Medicare Advantage plans do not let you go to NYU or Sloan Kettering. They want you to go where the care is cheapest. You don’t want cheap cancer care. You want the best cancer care.”

Where is that care? According to Brown, most cancer centers have programs dedicated to eliminating disparities. It is at these centers where cutting-edge scientific study is done. And it’s critical for black folks to be part of that research.

“You’re going to get the best, latest advances and better care,” she said. “You can help get rid of some of these disparities, particularly if you’re a person of color. Clinical research plus underserved populations equals cancer health equity.”

So why are so few of us taking part in clinical trials? The easy answer is our fear of research borne out of medical experimentation—think: Tuskegee Experiment and Henrietta Lacks. But the truth is that most people aren’t old enough to remember this mistreatment.

Brown suggested the culprit is deeper than that.

Some of our reluctance centers around cost. We worry we won’t be able to afford the treatment. “Medicare does cover all of the costs associated with participating in a clinical trials,” she said, giving credit for this to legislation passed during Bill Clinton’s administration. “Medicaid does not. But there’s a bill in Congress right now to make this mandatory for Medicaid. There is no study in New York City where someone should not be given access to a clinical trial because of costs.”

Another roadblock to minority involvement in clinical trials comes from the medical profession itself.

“A lot of oncologists assume poor patients, homeless patients, old patients, or patients of color won’t be able to deal with this clinical trial, so they think, ‘I’m not going to tell them about it,’” Brown said. “We have to get past that.

Sloan Kettering works hard to avoid those assumptions. It’s not the only center actively seeking people of color for research, but it’s the place Brown knows best. “We are very aggressive about informing patients about research and clinical trials,” she said.

Today’s cancer treatment is all about precision medicine. This is where a test tells each patient what their particular cancer looks like from a DNA standpoint.

“We learn a way to manipulate this cancer by taking your cancer and your blood and mapping the genome. We can target the mutations in the cancer genome,” Brown said. “New drugs are being developed every day. How? By clinical trials. Participating in a clinical trial is the best way for people of color affected by cancer to level the playing field.”

Read about the 3rd Black Health Matters Summit Recap here: https://blackhealthmatters.com/summitsouth/recap2019/

The post Clinical Trials Key to Eliminating Cancer Disparities appeared first on Black Health Matters.

By Kellee Terrell

It shouldn’t be a secret that African-American men are disproportionately impacted by prostate cancer, the most common cancer in the U.S. next to skin cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, while the diagnosis rate among white, American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander, and Latino men is anywhere between 49.6 and 90.2 per 100,000 men, for Black men the rate is much higher. For every 100,000 men, it’s estimated will be a whopping 158 new diagnoses.

And when you look at the mortality rates, the news for African-American men is even more serious.

Past studies suggest that Black men are 2.3 times more likely to die from it than their white counterparts. That, and they appear to be more likely to develop an aggressive form of the cancer.

And yet, not enough Black men know what they need to know about this jarring racial health disparity. So to help bridge this persistent knowledge gap, Black Health Matters teamed up with Black fraternities such as Alpha Phi Alpha and Zeta Chi Sigma and, along with health experts to better educate African-American men. They hosted nearly a dozen events in Washington, DC, Baltimore and Atlanta, and the focus was simple: Teach them about the basics of prostate cancer, encourage the importance of getting screened yearly and early, and the benefits of participating in clinical trials.

Black Health Matters Publisher and Founder, Roslyn Young-Daniels shared how she developed the initiative.   “Growing up, both my parents were active in organizations that empathized giving-back to the community.  My dad was a Lifetime Member of Phi Beta Sigma,” Young-Sanders said.

Adding, “In doing research I learned that Phi Beta Sigma focused on prostate health education which included outreach on prostate cancer.  I then learned that all fraternities have a platform for health.  It made sense to partner with fraternities to broach the topic of prostate cancer and why clinical trial participation will provide new options for outcomes.”

Daniels then reached-out to barber shops and met barbers that were influential and interested in promoting health information that would be beneficial to their male patrons.

“From a grass-roots perspective we gained the attention of men within a “safe space” for health education that led to candid conversations.”

Environment, Venue & Trust

But when it comes to health literacy and the brothas, in order to make this stick, it was important to house the events in spaces that the participants would feel the most comfortable such as barber shops and around people they trusted with faces that looked like theirs.

For Courtney Souvenir, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the event he helped host in Maryland was eye opening for his frat brothers, who he says with confidence were leaning in and absorbing the information.

“You can tell by people’s body language and the questions they asked afterwards, that they were really impacted by the speakers,” Souvenir said.

“I heard so many men say, ‘I am going to call my doctor tomorrow,” and ‘I’m going to get screened.’ This was the whole point, to get men fired up about their health in a safe space.”

Essentially, when it comes to prostate health, Souvenir is clear: “If we want to be better fathers, husbands, spouses and leaders in our community, we need to make sure we put our health first.”

“It’s up to us. It’s our responsibility.”

Knowledge Is Key

One of the educators at the prostate cancer community health events was Dr. Jackson Davis, a retired urologist from Howard University who also is a survivor himself.

“When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I was initially shocked, but I told myself, ‘If anyone should get this disease, it should be me, given that this is what I do.’ It felt like fate,” David admitted.

Going through a series of radiation treatment, the 74-year-old is now cancer free and continues his work to educating other Black men about what they need to know about prostate health and prostate cancer.

For Davis, it the best way to disseminate the life-saving information and help debunk the existing myths about prostate cancer starts with being relatable and making everyone, regardless of education level, feel like they can understand what’s being said.

The next step is stressing when, why and how to get screened for prostate cancer.

“It’s important to know that while the current screening recommendations suggest for men to start getting screened at 50, but because we’re more likely to be develop prostate cancer, we should start getting screened as early as 40, especially if we have a family history of prostate cancer,” Davis stressed.

“The earlier the detection, the better our chances are to survive the disease,” he added.

In addition, one must know that there are two types of screenings, the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and a digital rectal exam (DRE). While many men may try to pass on the DRE, Davis emphasizes that it’s imperative to get both tests done—it can save tour life.

“Just getting the tests done separately doesn’t have a high likelihood of detecting cancer, but by doing both, it has a 90 percent chance, leading to a biopsy that will eventually be the factor that determines one’s diagnosis,” he explains.

For Souvenir, 48, who gets screened for prostate cancer nearly every year, he wants for men to shake off the stigma and fear of emasculation that comes with getting a DRE in the doctor’s office.

“The first time I had to get one, I was definitely blocking it out, ” he says laughing.

Adding, “But this test isn’t about feeling like less of a man and isn’t about your sexuality. This is about taking control of your health.”

Understanding Clinical Trials

Not surprisingly, if getting screened for prostate cancer is well received by the men in the audience, the idea of partaking in clinical trial is a much harder sell. But it didn’t stop the educators from emphasizing on why it’s so important for African-

American to participate in these trials, especially if they have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“Not only can clinical trials potentially help us understand why we are so vulnerable to this type of cancer, but to see which treatments work better for us,” Davis says.

However for many, the idea of playing “guinea pig” doesn’t sit too well, and for good reason. Thanks to medical racism including the Tuskegee Experiments and the Henrietta Lacks cervical cells being used without her consent and permission, African-Americans have a cultural mistrust of the medical community. This may be a factor behind why only 2 percent of African-Americans participate in cancer research.

But it’s important to keep in mind, that clinical trials are regulated, safe and have our best interest in mind.

If you or a loved one would like to explore if participation in a research study is an option, see, www.blackhealthmatters.com/clinicaltrials, www.clinicaltrials.gov or for information on a prostate cancer research study sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb: www.bmsstudyconnect.com/prostatecancer.

Remember: Turning our backs on science only stands in the way of our health and healing, especially when it comes to prostate cancer.

SIDBEBAR: Five Things Black Men Need To Know About Prostate Cancer

Dr. Jackson Davis, a retired urologist and prostate cancer survivor offers up these nuggets of knowledge that every Black man needs to know:

• Do The Research: While there is a lot of fake news on the internet, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any trusted and scientifically sound websites to get trusted information. Try reading Black Health Matters, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prostate Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society for scientifically sound and updated date and facts.
• Know Your Family History: Having a relative with prostate cancer, especially a father or brother, can increase your chance of developing the disease as well. So it’s important to ask around, get the information and bring that to your next doctor’s appointment so that your health care provider can fully and accurately access your risk.
• Build A Better Relationship With Your Health Care Provider: It’s important that you trust and respect your health care provider, and that your health provider feels the same way about you. Without trust, it’s hard to be open about what your concerns, especially around your prostate cancer risk and when you should get screened.
• Be An Empowered Patient: Nowadays, many of us only have 15 minutes of face time with our providers, so it’s crucial to be prepared with your questions written down prior to your appointment. That, and be clear that you want to be screened for prostate cancer. And if they brush it off and tell you to wait, it’s completely OK to find a new doctor who will listen to you and your concerns. Remember, this is your body, your health.

The post Black Health Matters Teams Up With Black Fraternities and Barber Shops To Educate The Brothas’ About Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Defining Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the leading cancer diagnosed in men in the United States. Several types of cells are found in the prostate, but almost all prostate cancers develop from the gland cells. Gland cells make the prostate fluid that is added to the semen.
Key Statistics
For reasons that are unclear, incidence rates are significantly higher in African-American men than in white men. In fact, African-American men may have the highest rate of prostate cancer incidence in the world. In addition, their prostate cancer mortality rate is more than twice as high as the rate for white Americans. From 2005 to 2009, mortality rates were 21.7 cases per 100,000 white men compared to 53.1 cases per 100,000 African-American men.
Five-year relative survival rates also are lower for African-American men (96.2 percent during 2002 to 2008) than for white men (99.6 percent during 2002 to 2008).
The causes of higher rates of prostate cancer among African-American males are largely unknown. Some studies have found that even when income and education are controlled for, African-Americans have much higher rates than whites.
Age, ethnicity and family history are the main risk factors for prostate cancer. With regards to ethnicity, African American men and Jamaican men of African descent have the highest prostate cancer incidence in the world.
Symptoms
Early prostate cancer usually has no symptoms. Some advanced prostate cancers can slow or weaken your urinary stream or make you need to urinate more often, especially at night. But non-cancerous diseases of the prostate, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) also can cause these symptoms. If the prostate cancer is advanced, you might have blood in your urine or trouble getting an erection. Advanced prostate cancer commonly spreads to the bones, which can cause pain in the hips, back, chest, or other areas. Cancer that has spread to the spine can also press on the spinal nerves, causing weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control.
How Is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
Most prostate cancers are first found during screening with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and or a digital rectal exam (DRE).
Treatment
Depending on the situation, the treatment options for men with prostate cancer may include:
Watching and waiting
Surgery
Radiation therapy
Cryosurgery (cryotherapy)
Hormone therapy
Chemotherapy
Vaccine treatment
From Fox Chase Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library, American Cancer Society

The post Prostate Cancer and Black Men appeared first on Black Health Matters.

In hindsight, that decision may have saved my life because, as I eventually learned, African- American men like me are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as Caucasian men.

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 6 African Americans will develop prostate cancer and are 2.3 times more likely to die from prostate cancer.1

Due to my years in the Air Force, including going into reduced gravity situations, I was used to getting physicals every year and I always pay attention to my medical status. About 20 years ago,

I started getting the PSA test, which is the prostate-specific antigen test for monitoring potential disease in the prostate. In early 2017, my PSA level had reached 5 and I was advised to see a urologist. Unfortunately, I did receive a prostate cancer diagnosis, but it was in the early stages so I had a few medical options.

1 American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts and Figures for African Americans 2016-2018

I could simply do nothing and undergo active surveillance – morecommonly called “watchful waiting” – where my doctor and I would keep tabs on the progress of the cancer. That choice mightwork for some patients. But I was told if I didn’t do anything I’d likely live another 10 years, and even though I’m now 74, I havemore life to live than that!

Another option I considered was a radical prostatectomy, where the entire prostate gland is removed by a surgeon. After that surgery however, my urologist told me it could take up to two years for urinary and sexual function to return, or they might not return at all. Incontinence and impotence are the two common side effects of this procedure. Radical surgery did not seem like the right choice for me.

My urologist also told me I could get radiation, but the long- term side effects were similar to what I’d face with apostatectomy.

Then, one of my friends from the gym let me know he’d seen anad about a procedure called High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, or HIFU. With HIFU, the doctor directs high-frequency sound waves to heat up and burn off diseased tissue in the prostate using an ultrasound probe.

My urologist had reservations about HIFU, but with my public health background, I decided to look at the numbers and get a second opinion. A friend of mine had heard that Dr. Brian Miles at Houston Methodist Hospital was one of the top urologists inthe U.S. and was also an oncologist. After checking Dr. Miles’credentials, I made an appointment to see him.

At the time, I didn’t know Dr. Miles performed the HIFUprocedure. He confirmed the diagnosis and verified that I was a candidate for HIFU. I liked the idea of this non-invasive option. The relatively short down time and the potential for a return to normal urological function were both appealing. I was also elated that I could get the procedure in Houston and would not have to travel far.

I had the procedure a week before Hurricane Harvey struck Houston in late August of 2017, and it only took about an hour- and-a-half. I was back home the same day. Luckily, I did not have to evacuate. I returned to work on September 11, 2017.

As Dr. Miles told me before the procedure, I had to wear a catheter for a short period due to swelling in my prostate. This generally occurs after the HIFU treatment. However, the catheter was eventually removed and I graduated to wearing apad for occasional incontinence. Today, I don’t even need thatbecause incontinence is no longer a problem.

I’m very glad I chose the HIFU option. I’m also grateful to all the dedicated people who were by my side, including my family and friends.

I consider myself lucky because I was diligent about receiving my annual physical, and I feel honored to share my challenge with prostate cancer.

My advice to other men – especially African American men who are at even greater risk — is to find a physician you trust and heed the professional advice you are given. I hope in some small way I can encourage someone else who may be reluctant to get the necessary treatment to become a prostate cancer survivor.

By Victor Murray

The post HIFU Prostate Procedure Helps NASA Safety Engineer Protect His Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The task force, which recommended against routine PSA screening in 2012, now says men ages 55 to 69 should decide individually with their doctors whether and when to undergo the testing. It continues to recommend against prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, testing for men age 70 and older, saying potential risks outweigh any rewards of routine screening for this age group.

The 2012 recommendation was based on evidence that PSA screening resulted in overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment that could leave men with urinary incontinence and sexual impotence. (Note about 70 percent of men with elevated PSA do not have prostate cancer when they are biopsied.) In addition, many PSA-detected cancers grow so slowly that some men are likely to die from something else instead.

“We were very concerned in 2012 that many, many men were being treated for prostate cancer,” said Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, M.D., a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and chair of the task force.

But new research, some of which suggests a small net benefit from screening, led the USPSTF to adjust its recommendation. “The new evidence allowed us to say that we think now the benefits do outweigh the harms,” Dr. Bibbins-Domingo said. “There is probably a small benefit overall to screening. The right decision is not a one-size-fits-all decision. The right decision isn’t screening all men, it’s making all men aware of the benefits and harms, and then allowing each man to make the best decision for himself. Now we can recommend that men have a conversation with their doctors about whether screening is right for them.”

PSA tests can detect prostate tumors at their most treatable stage, and several studies have reinforced not only the benefits of the tests, but also ways to lessen screening harms, including unnecessary biopsies and treatments.

One study in particular, the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer, found PSA testing cuts the chances of developing advanced prostate cancer by about 30 percent and the risk of dying from the disease by about 20 percent.

Some doctors are praising the USPSTF’s change of heart. “I view this as a victory for PSA screening for prostate cancer,” William Catalona, M.D., a professor of urology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine told NPR. “PSA screening saves lives. And having the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force discourage PSA screening has sort of created a whole generation of family practitioners and internists who feel that PSA screening is a bad thing to do for patients. If this were to continue, we would lose all these gains in reducing the prostate cancer death rate.”

Otis Brawley, M.D. the American Cancer Society’s chief medical officer, agrees with the USPSTF’s revised guidelines, though for different reasons than Dr. Catalona.

“Prostate screening has been a contentious issue ever since the prostate specific antigen test became available some 30 years ago,” Dr. Brawley wrote today in a CNN commentary. “PSA has been shown to have a high false-positive rate and a high false-negative rate—literally missing as many prostate cancers as it finds.”

But, he told NPR, “I really do think that there is a pendulum in a lot of things that we do in medicine. And the pendulum here may be getting to the right place where we realize there are harms and there are benefits, and individuals need to weigh these harms and benefits and tailor a decision that’s right for them.”

The recommendation does not specify how often men might want to have their PSA levels screened. It is directed at men with average risk and those at increased risk of prostate cancer, such as black men, who are about two times as likely to succumb to prostate cancer as the general population, or men with a strong family history of the disease. But Dr. Bibbins-Domingo said further study is needed to figure out whether to screen these high-risk men more aggressively than those in the general population.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types among men in the U.S., with nearly 13 percent being diagnosed with it over the course of their lifetimes, according to the National Cancer Institute. Roughly 180,000 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year; at least 26,000 die annually from the disease.

The post Task Force Reverses Decision on PSA Guidelines appeared first on Black Health Matters.

This form of cancer is frequently very slow growing, often causing no symptoms until it is in an advanced stage. At that point, symptoms may include difficulty starting urination, weak or interrupted flow of urine, and frequent urination, especially at night. It is so slow growing that most men with prostate cancer die of other causes; many never know they have the disease. But once prostate cancer begins to grow quickly or spreads outside the prostate, it becomes dangerous. While the disease is rare before age 50, experts believe most elderly men have traces of it.

New approaches to prostate cancer treatment, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, are constantly being considered.

In 2004, the FDA approved docetaxel, the first chemotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer that showed a survival benefit.

“When prostate cancer metastasizes to another location in the body, it is in most cases incurable and the goal of treatment is to improve a patient’s symptoms or function, or to extend the length of the patient’s life, ” said Daniel Suzman, M.D., a medical officer in FDA’s Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Since docetaxel’s approval, the agency has approved five additional therapies, all of which have shown improvements in survival.

And two major trials have shown adding docetaxel to hormonal therapy for men with metastatic disease that had not previously been treated improved their survival.

That’s become a standard of care for men who have a high burden of disease (such as cancer that has spread to the soft tissues or to many spots in the bone) and are a good candidate for chemotherapy, according to Dr. Suzman.

One promising area of research is related to preventing over treatment of patients with prostate cancer that is still localized to the prostate and who have a low risk of becoming symptomatic or dying from the condition. Carefully selecting men who are low risk is crucial. There is increasing evidence that close surveillance and repeated biopsies may safely allow these patients to delay surgery or radiation. “There is a need to reduce the burden to patients of over treatment if the prostate cancer is slow growing,” Dr. Suzman said.

The post New Approaches to Prostate Cancer Treatment appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Bald men may be beautiful, but losing hair early could raise the risk for prostate cancer, especially in African-American men, according to a recent study from the American Association for Cancer Research.

The study, which appears in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, looked at more than 300 African-American men with prostate cancer and more than 200 controls between 1998 and 2010. The men had either a full head of hair or frontal baldness.

“We focused on African-American men because they are at high risk for developing prostate cancer and are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than other groups in the United States,” said Charnita Zeigler-Johnson, Ph.D., research assistant professor at the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, in a press release. “Although this is a high-risk group for poor prostate cancer outcomes, no published study had focused on evaluating baldness as a potential risk factor in a sample of African-American men.”

The results: Men with any baldness had a 69 percent increased risk of prostate cancer. Those with frontal baldness had more than double the risk for advanced prostate cancer diagnosis. The risk was even stronger among African-American men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 60.

“Early-onset baldness may be a risk factor for early-onset prostate cancer in African-American men, particularly younger men,” Zeigler-Johnson said in the release.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and it is the second most common cause of death. African-American men have higher rates than men of other races.

The post Early-Onset Baldness Could Increase Risk for Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Population studies that identify the causes of disease—known as epidemiological studies—are crucial for pinpointing cancer risks and advancing public health policy to combat them. But it’s also crucial that researchers understand that who does—and does not—get screened for cancer may color our perception of risk factors.

For instance, if overweight men are screened less or get fewer biopsies, they may seem to have less prostate cancer. But does that truly give us a clear picture of an overweight man’s risk for the disease?

A new study led by public health researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center suggests variation in biopsy patterns among screened populations may have influenced how we measure prostate cancer risks.

Fred Hutch biostatistician Catherine Tangen, lead author of a study published last fall in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, said she and colleagues looked at two large prevention trials and found discrepancies between known risk factors—which have not changed—and who actually got the disease.

“We assumed that prostate cancers are diagnosed uniformly, but that’s not true. We found a lot of variation,” she said. “Risk and reality often didn’t line up. As a public health researcher, this concerns me. Bias can warp our understanding of the prostate cancer disease process—and misdirect our efforts to test new risk factors and prevention strategies in future research.”

It’s all about individual versus population-level risk, she said. It’s key for a man and his doctor to look at individual risk factors—age, weight, race, general health, family history of the disease—and make a personalized decision about screening and/or biopsy. A clear understanding of risk factors can help men make more informed decisions.

“But at a population level, bias can lead us to screen and biopsy men who are at low risk and lead us to fail to screen and biopsy men who are at higher risk,” she said. “In research, bias can cause us to waste precious time and money investigating the wrong risk factors.”

Funded by the National Cancer Institute and conducted by the cancer clinical trials network SWOG, the study drilled down into data from two of the largest prostate cancer prevention trials ever conducted in the U.S., PCPT and SELECT. Tangen partnered with fellow Fred Hutch researchers Phyllis Goodman, Cathee Till and epidemiologist Jeannette Schenk as well as researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine for the SWOG study. SWOG’s Statistical Center is housed at Fred Hutch.

The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial, or PCPT, was conducted between 1994 and 1997 and offered researchers an unusual edge because most participants in the trial received end-of-study biopsies. The uniform biopsy provided unbiased data on actual cancer risk and was considered a “gold standard.”

“We had this great opportunity with the PCPT study where we actually biopsied lots of men regardless of what their PSA looked like, men from all walks of life,” Tangen said. “We have an estimate of what the true association was with different risk factors for prostate cancer.”

The Selenium and Vitamin E Chemoprevention Trial, conducted between 2001 and 2008, operated a little differently. Men in this trial received PSA testing and digital rectal exams based on local medical standards. Biopsies were done at the discretion of the doctor and based on the men’s own preferences. These men did not receive automatic end-of-study biopsies as with the other cohort.

“With SELECT, we followed the men and some had PSAs and some didn’t. Some got biopsies and some didn’t,” Tangen said. “It was more like what happens in the general community.”

Using data from the prevention trials’ placebo arms (men who received no preventive intervention), researchers created two cohorts totaling 17,000-plus men, including more than 2,200 who were actually diagnosed with prostate cancer during the course of the trials. And they found that among men with the same PSA values, certain men underwent biopsies more than others. Younger, healthier, better educated men; married men; and those with a family history of prostate cancer were more likely to get biopsies, at least in the U.S. Overweight men, men who smoked and men who were diabetic were less likely to get a biopsy.

The investigators then evaluated the associations of risk factors with prostate cancer in SELECT (reflecting treatment of the general population) and then in PCPT (the gold standard) and checked to see if the results were consistent.

They found many discrepancies. Men who took statin drugs in the SELECT trial, for example, had a significantly reduced risk of prostate cancer. But when they looked at statin use in the PCPT trial, there was no association. They concluded that individual doctor and patient biopsy decisions probably accounted for these very different results. On the flip side, researchers confirmed that men with a family history of prostate cancer and men with elevated PSA levels— both proven risk factors—did indeed develop cancer at higher rates than their peers. However, that association wasn’t as strong in PCPT when the “biopsy bias” was reduced.

“We don’t know what forces are at work behind the scenes,” said Tangen. “Do people who get statins have a better relationship with their doctor so they’re getting screened more for prostate cancer? Or do people on statins tend to be sicker and have higher BMI and their doctor is less likely to recommend a biopsy? We scratched the surface and showed that there are a lot of factors that impact whether someone gets a prostate biopsy. But how all of those factors work together for a given study, we don’t know.”

Tangen said these discrepancies are important because they influence screening recommendations for the general population.

“The research community sometimes makes faulty conclusions about prostate cancer risk—assumptions that may lead to flawed screening decisions and incorrect choices about research directions,” she said. “Detection bias is introduced when screening information is not acted upon uniformly.”
Fred Hutch biostatistician Ruth Etzioni, who was not involved with the report, said the findings are probably more important for scientists than for the general public.

“The results have implications for researchers who do these kinds of studies, but the implications for the public are not as clear,” she said. “Still, the public can learn from this why different studies get different results. It can be confusing sometimes because one study will say one thing and another study will say another thing. That’s because they’re done in different populations and the screening and biopsy patterns can really vary.”

Family history, for instance, is a big risk factor for prostate cancer, and most men with a family history of the disease know this.

“So people with a family history are more likely to comply,” she said. “If they get a positive PSA test, they’re going to get a biopsy. They’ll think, ‘My brother died of this. I need to go.'”

The problem is, a cohort full of these types of men will skew the outcome.

“It will make the risk factor of family history look more important,” she said. “That’s the bias. If the risk factors are high, they’ll look even higher with this cohort because they’re more likely to have a biopsy.”

Both Tangen and co-author Ian Thompson of the University of Texas Health Science Center said it’s all about getting to the truth.

“In medicine, we don’t want to do the wrong thing and in research, we don’t want to look in the wrong places,” said Thompson. “Our work shows we may be doing both in prostate cancer. So the message is this: Risk factors for cancer are very complex. Before we all leap to conclusions, we need to collect very detailed research data on who is screened and why and be very rigorous in our analysis of that data and what it might mean for clinical care.”

Tangen agreed, adding this was particularly important since screening also picks up indolent, asymptomatic cancers which may not require treatment.

“In cancer research, we all want the truth,” she said. “But we’ve found that we may just have to work harder to find it. There is a lot of noise out there.”

From Fred Hutch News Service

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When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the year 2000 I had already lost my father and both grandfathers to the disease. This made me the third generation in my family to face prostate cancer.  However, it was some years later that I understood the important role of genetics in a man’s prostate health.
Researchers are working to pinpoint the exact genetic reasons that African American men are diagnosed with a 60% higher rate of prostate cancer and die from the disease at a 130% higher rate than white men. While this work is being pursued new prostate cancer treatments are continuing to be developed and approved to treat the disease.
Each of these new treatments is approved based on a clinical trial study. More and more doctors are focused on using genetic profiles to determine which treatment is best for individual patients. This is referred to as personalized or precision medicine. The problem is that African American men have not been participating in clinical trials in large enough numbers for researchers to know which treatments may or may not work best for us.

PHEN’s Clinical Trials Rally is aimed at raising the level of clinical trials education and awareness and increasing African American participation in prostate cancer clinical trials. We cannot be left behind with new treatments if we are going to eliminate the prostate cancer racial disparity.
The decision on whether a man should participate in a prostate cancer clinical trial has to be made between him and his doctor. However, we trust that our clinical trials rally information will help you make better informed decisions with your doctors. There are benefits from clinical trials that you may realize while you are on your prostate cancer journey today, and possible benefits for future generations within your family.
My best to you in our fight against prostate cancer.
Tom Farrington
PHEN Founder and President
Written by PHEN.

The post African American Clinical Trials Participation appeared first on Black Health Matters.

• It provides another treatment option.  You will have access to new innovative treatments (at minimal to now cost) that are not available to people outside of the trial.

• You receive expert medical care that will provide close monitoring of your condition and any changes.

• If the treatment being studied is more effective than the standard treatment, you may be the first to receive this benefit.

• You will help doctors develop new treatments and determine how well they work for all black men.

Written by PHEN.

The post Understanding the Possible Benefits for Patients When Participating in a Clinical Trial appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Black Health Matters Ambassador for the day was Dr. Adam Metwalli, Chief of Urology at Howard University Hospital and he was the guest speaker for the program.  On top of being one of 4 doctors who specializes in Urology at Howard University Hospital, Dr. Metwalli also devotes his time spreading awareness about prostate cancer, a serious health issue that is not often discussed.

The subjects he covered were:

• Prostate cancer basics
• African Americans and prostate cancer
• The need for clinical trial participation among African Americans for prostate cancer

He explained the 4 different stages of clinical trials and the different things that are researched during each stage. Ultimately, the goal of clinical trials is to discover what works as effective treatment. He delivered detailed information about the lack of African American participation in clinical trials, revealing that only about 2% of African Americans participate in cancer research  even though African American men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with it than white men.  Among the many root causes of lack of participation, some that were discussed are:

• Lack of awareness and information of the trials,
• Cultural prejudices
• Lack of communication between physicians and patients.

He also brought to light the many benefits of clinical trials that are not often highlighted or shared, including stringent safety protocols and consistent efforts to improve the clinical trial experience for participants.

Dr. Metwalli revealed that black men are plagued by prostate cancer at higher rates than other races and are 2.3 times more likely to die from it. He has found that often, black men die and only after an autopsy it is revealed that they had prostate cancer. He stressed the importance of actively surveilling for prostate cancer since it places a such huge burden on the body.  Men must be proactive about this health issue and he noted that accessibility to healthcare and good health providers for African Americans play a role in the lack of precautionary steps being taken.

What was envisioned as a 15 minute presentation turned into almost an hour as the chapter members asked questions and challenged Dr. Metwalli on the benefits of heightened awareness of their own health and why research study participation is an option for those with a sense of urgency in treating their disease.  Willard Hutt ensured that all questions were answered and was pleased with the level of engagement on the topic.

Prostate cancer is a major health issue that a lot of men don’t like to talk about. Black Health Matters would like to thank Willard Hutt and Dr. Adam Metwalli for  shedding some much-needed light on an important health topic.

If you or a loved one would like to explore if participation in a research study is an option, see,
www.blackhealthmatters.com/clinicaltrials, www.clinicaltrials.gov or for information on a prostate cancer research study sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb: www.bmsstudyconnect.com/prostatecancer.

The post Zeta Chi Sigma in Prince George’s County Discusses Prostate Cancer & Research Study Participation appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The post NIH and Prostate Cancer Foundation launch large study on aggressive prostate cancer in African-American men appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Many women assume the hot flashes, mood swings and weight gain they experience as they approach middle age are normal signs of the hormonal changes associated with menopause, and that they just have to accept them. And many men often don’t associate thinning hair and other problems they experience as they age with hormonal decline. We’re both wrong. Calvin Wilson, M.D., of Living Great Medical Associates in Dover, Delaware, explains why we need to change our thinking and explains how we can use bioidentical hormone therapy to treat these issues.

What are bioidentical hormones?

Calvin Wilson, M.D.: Bioidentical hormone therapy has been used in this country since 1939. In fact, it was the primary method of hormone replacement therapy until pharmaceutical companies came out with synthetic hormones. Bioidentical hormones are identical or equivalent to what is produced in the body. Synthetic hormones have to be changed in some way so they can be patented. They are absorbed differently in the body because of that.

How do bioidentical hormones work?

Dr. Wilson: Bioidentical hormones are given by creams or pellets that slip under the skin. Every dose is customized by a person’s age, weight and hormone levels. Because of that, the person gets treatment designed for them rather than designed for the population in general.

Why do we need them? And who needs them?

Dr. Wilson: The “change of life” used to mean a woman had about five years left of her life. Now women live years after the change with increased risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain. Osteoporosis—the most serious of which is hip fracture—is predicted to increase 330 percent by 2020.

Men have a decrease in testosterone. We used to think there was no such thing as andropause, that men were good throughout their life. But we’re seeing lower performance, lower sexual drive in men. We’re seeing more thinning of the bones in males now than at any other time in history. Men over age 50 have suboptimal hormone levels.

There’s a misconception that women don’t need testosterone. But around the age of 28 to 30, we all lose lean muscle mass every year. The main cause of admission to nursing homes is being frail. That’s because of loss of muscle mass, not illness. The change of life causes that loss of muscle mass to accelerate.

There was that dust-up about synthetic hormone replacement therapy some years ago. Are bioidentical hormones safer?

Dr. Wilson: A study showed an increase in several illnesses related to synthetic hormones. The suggestion was that women should not continue hormone therapy beyond five to 10 years because of an increased incidence of heart disease, specifically heart attack and stroke, due to an increase in clotting. There were increased incidences in that study, but that was more a manipulation of the statistics. At any rate, we do not see the incidence of clotting with bioidentical hormones because they are not taken by mouth. Bioidentical hormones are safer than synthetic hormones.

What are the side effects?

Dr. Wilson: They are fairly minimal if levels are calculated and followed correctly. When correctly balanced, bioidentical hormones will cause a decrease in the risk of uterine cancer. But if they are incorrectly prescribed, they can cause a slight increase in the risk of uterine cancer.

There’s always a concern with breast cancer. So far there’s been only one study—a long-term study that followed women for up to 30 years—and it found no increase in breast cancer in the general public.

For men, prostate cancer is actually twice as common as breast cancer. But one study showed that when testosterone therapy is used and maintained at proper levels, there’s not an increased risk in prostate cancer.

Outside of that, the side effects are fairly small. Some women complain of abnormal hair growth on their chin and chest, but that’s very uncommon. I have some patients who have never taken a hormone in their life—that’s including birth control pills—who have a full goatee and mustache—and others who take hormones who have no abnormal hair growth. I believe genetics plays a large role in that.

How do we find a doctor to prescribe bioidentical hormones correctly?

Dr. Wilson: Look for someone who is certified in bioidentical hormone therapy. Or look up a good compounding pharmacy and ask for a referral.

What else should we know about this therapy?

Dr. Wilson: People should keep an open mind. Doctors in this country are not trained in the use of alternative approaches, but integrative medicines are becoming more widely accepted. People should explore all of their options, rather than going with the traditional treatments. We rank fairly low among developed countries in disease prevention and health optimization. We are much more reactive than proactive. If we could get people to follow healthier lifestyles and optimize their health, we could save somewhere in the range of $10 trillion in health-care costs.

Think of it this way: We need to change the oil in our car. Do we think A) it’s more important to get the oil changed as recommended, or B) wait until the car breaks down and then change the oil? Obviously we think B is pretty silly, but that’s what we do with our bodies.

The post Calvin Wilson, M.D.: Treating Hormonal Changes As We Age appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Not that we need another reason to justify male sex drives, but science is really on our side here. The good folks at Harvard Medical School concluded that “high ejaculation frequency seemed to protect against prostate cancer.” Harvard conducted a study on almost 30,000 men between the ages of 46 and 81. These men reported their number of ejaculations per month between young adulthood (under 30 years old) and mid-life (ages 40 to 49). We are curious to know how the men tracked their ejaculations over that span of time, but thank God they did!

The scientists discovered that men who ejaculated 21 or more times per month enjoyed a 33 percent lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men who reported they only ejaculated four to seven times a month.

Ejaculations included sexual intercourse, nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) and masturbation. Apparently, ejaculating helps to flush out those evil cancer-causing toxins. Don’t act like you didn’t know this the whole time (*wink wink*). The brilliant dudes at Harvard also reported that a healthy sex life in general lowers the risk of cancer. We would not recommend using these health facts as a hookup line on Tinder—unless you are trying to sleep with a doctor, of course—because no one else will understand it.

Prostate cancer is one of the leading health risks for men. According to United States statistical data relating to prostate cancer, approximately 12 percent of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetime. In 2017, more than 161,000 new cases are estimated to appear. Based on previous data from 2012-2014, the number of deaths was 21.4 per 100,000 men per year. What does this mean for guys? The average month is about 31 days, so if you can find a way to ejaculate 65 percent to 68 percent of the month, you possibly could remain prostate cancer-free.

Guys, if you are of a certain age, it’s important to visit your doctor regularly to check for prostate cancer to detect early signs that can help save your life.
Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, but you can never been too safe! In the meantime, if you want to get a head start on fighting cancer, it seems whacking off is actually a preventive method. Excessive masturbation has some unhealthy consequences, though, so don’t go overboard!

Of course, dieting and proper exercise can help prevent cancers from forming as well, but a good orgasm always trumps #chestday! Next time your partner catches you midway through your pleasurable experience with your hand, instead of being shamefully embarrassed, confidently grab your lotion bottle and say with a courageous face: “I am fighting cancer!”

From BET

The post Ejaculation Is Key to Long Life appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A new study adds fodder to the circumcision debate with findings that suggest the procedure might have a preventive effect on prostate cancer in black men. Prostate cancer, the second-leading cause (behind lung cancer) of cancer death in American men, is diagnosed in one in seven men, killing one in 36. African-American men have the highest rates of prostate cancer in the world, and their mortality rate is more than twice that of white men.

The study’s authors caution that their findings are preliminary, and they don’t suggest circumcision lowers the risk of prostate cancer for most men nor do they recommend the procedure as a strategy for cancer prevention.

But “it may be that circumcision should be considered as an option for men at higher risk, such as black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer,” says study co-author Marie-Elise Parent, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Quebec’s INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier Research Center in Laval, Canada. “But we need more research to confirm this.”

Previous research has suggested that circumcision could slightly reduce the risk of prostate cancer. In the new study, researchers analyzed the medical records of more than 1,500 men treated for prostate cancer at a Montreal hospital from 2005-09 and compared the records to a similar number of men who didn’t have the disease. Though there was no statistically significant difference in prostate cancer rates between circumcised and uncircumcised men, there was a 60 percent lower risk of the disease among circumcised black men.

“We still know very little about the potential causes of prostate cancer,” Parent says. “All we know for sure is that risk of developing it increases with age, that having a father, brother or son with prostate cancer increases one’s risk, and that this cancer is more frequent among men of African ancestry.”

Circumcision also has been linked to lower rates of sexually transmitted infections like HIV. But it remains a hot-potato issue, with critics calling the procedure barbaric. Rates of circumcision among newborn boys have dropped in the U.S. in the last three decades.

The post Can Being Cut Prevent Prostate Cancer? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Black men suffer disproportionate rates of cancer diagnosis and death. According to the American Cancer Society, the death rate for all cancers combined is 33 percent higher among African-American men than among their white counterparts. For African-American men aged 45 years or older, cancer is the first or second-leading cause of death after heart disease.

Despite these statistics, there have been few community-based efforts (Black Men Speak Inc. of Oakland, California; Chicago’s Project Brotherhood; Men of Color Health Awareness of Springfield, Massachusetts; and Black Men’s Health and Wellness Expo held in Orlando, Florida) designed to educate this population about cancer. With this in mind, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center held a series of breakfasts from 2008 to mid-2014 to improve awareness, screening and education among African-American men.

The breakfasts, held in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, Michigan, targeted African-American men aged 51 to 70 and discovered more than 50 percent of the participants were interested in:

• nutrition
• prostate cancer
• colorectal cancer
• pain management
• participation in clinical trials

The breakfast series concluded, through follow-up surveys and focus groups, that African-American men are interested in learning about health and willing to attend relevant events. The researchers hope their series of breakfasts will provide a blueprint for health professionals to develop similar ongoing programs.

The post Beating Cancer Over Breakfast appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Prostate cancer, the second most common type of cancer in men, is predicted to result in an estimated 220,000 cases in the United States this year. For black men, prostate cancer is a more serious threat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, black men have the highest rate of developing prostate cancer, and are more likely to die from the disease than men of other races.

The good news is that over the past decade, science has made significant progress in the prostate cancer fight, specifically with emphasis on chemoprevention—the use of agents to prevent the development or progression of prostate cancer.

Along those lines, a recent study looked at the effectiveness of the active components in green tea to prevent prostate cancer development in men who have premalignant lesions.

Why green tea? In Asian countries, where 20 percent of green tea is consumed, the prostate cancer death rates are among the lowest in the world. Yet when Asian men migrate to the United States and change their dietary habits, their risk of prostate cancer increases. Studies show catechins, substances in green tea, inhibit cancer cell growth and boost cancer cell death.

For the new study, a research team evaluated the effect of a one-year green tea intervention on suppressing prostate cancer development in men with premalignant lesions. They gave decaffeinated green tea capsules twice a day to 48 men and placebo tablets to 49 men. After the year, the men who took the green tea capsule had a significant decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. PSA is a biomarker that, in combination with other risk factors, is used to screen patients for prostate cancer; high levels signify a greater risk of prostate cancer.

Photo: Lightwavemedia

The post Go Green (Tea)! appeared first on Black Health Matters.

When a man reaches age 25, his prostate begins to grow. This natural growth, called benign prostatic hyperplasia, is the most common cause of prostate enlargement. BPH is benign and doesn’t lead to prostate cancer, though the two problems can coexist.

Some 50 percent to 60 percent of men with BPH may never develop symptoms, but for those who do, the condition can affect a man’s quality of life. Symptoms of BPH include:

• a hesitant, interrupted, weak urine stream
• urgency, leaking, dribbling
• a sense of incomplete emptying
• more frequent urination, especially at night

The good news is that BPH treatments are more effective than ever and with fewer side effects (though there is no cure). But there are some things men with BPH can do on their own. If symptoms are not particularly bothersome, watchful waiting—regular monitoring, but no treatment—may be the best way to proceed. For more challenging symptoms, doctors typically recommend a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. This simple steps are often enough to relieve the worst symptoms and prevent the need for surgery:

• Men who are nervous and tense have the need to urinate more frequently. Regular exercise and relaxation techniques such as meditation can reduce stress.
• Empty the bladder completely in the bathroom. This will reduce the need for subsequent trips to the toilet.
• Some medications—both prescription and over-the-counter—can contribute to BPH. Discuss the problem with your doctor. She may adjust dosages, change your schedule for taking these drugs or switch to medications that cause fewer urinary problems.
• Avoid drinking fluids in the evening, particularly caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. Both can affect the muscle tone of the bladder, and both stimulate the kidneys to produce urine, causing frequent nighttime urination.

The post How to Cope With an Enlarged Prostate appeared first on Black Health Matters.

It was only by chance that doctors discovered Nate Battle’s fast-growing prostate cancer.

At age 49, the Del Ray Beach, Florida, businessman had agreed to a full physical to get a discount on his health insurance. Testing conducted for that physical led to the diagnosis of the aggressive cancer which, fortunately, was caught at an early stage.

“In my follow-up appointment, my GP said, ‘You had another six months before things would have gone really bad for you,'” said Battle, now 52. “Chills ran up and down my spine. If I had not gone in for that wellness screening, it would have been a completely different scenario.”

Battle’s experience falls in line with newly published research from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center that shows black men may be at heightened risk not only of developing prostate cancer but also of having a more aggressive form at a younger age.

Scientists discovered more than a decade ago that the rate of prostate cancer among black men was 60 percent higher than in the general population and that these men were twice as likely to die from the disease. But it wasn’t clear whether the higher death rate was because African Americans were receiving lower quality care or because they were more likely to develop a faster growing form of prostate cancer.

The new study, published today in the journal Cancer, offers further evidence that prostate cancer is more prevalent—and can be more aggressive—in blacks and that African-American men are at increased risk of developing the disease at a younger age compared to the general population.

Using computer models and data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results, or SEER, program, a team of researchers led by Fred Hutch biostatistician Ruth Etzioni determined that the higher incidence and death rates were related to differences between black men and the general population in how prostate cancer may develop and progress. They estimated that black men had a relatively higher risk—30 to 43 percent compared to 24 to 29 percent among men in the general population—of developing prostate cancer by age 85.

More specifically, the study showed that, by the time their disease would have been detected without screening, black men with prostate cancer had a risk of 9 to 13 percent that the cancer would have spread beyond the prostate—a risk that is 44 to 75 percent higher than that of the general population. This suggests black men are more likely than others to develop fast-growing prostate cancers.

“That doesn’t mean they all progress faster,” Etzioni said. “But the fraction that progresses faster is higher in this population than in the general population. And the fraction that gets prostate cancer is also higher.”

One thing the researchers couldn’t tell from the models was the root cause or causes of the higher rates—in other words, whether they were due to biological, behavioral or environmental issues.

The new study, which involved investigators from Fred Hutch, the University of Michigan and Erasmus University, comes as experts are re-evaluating the value of the prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood test in the general population, which in recent years has become somewhat controversial since the vast majority of cancers it uncovers are very slow-growing.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued new recommendations for the PSA test’s use in the general public. The new recommendation backtracked from the previous one, which stated that men should not be screened for prostate cancer. Although the old recommendation was meant to apply to men at average risk of prostate cancer, it meant fewer black men received screening even though they were at higher-than-average risk. In the update, the USPSTF recommended that men between the ages of 55 and 69 should talk to their doctors about getting a PSA test. African-American men should “talk to their clinician about their increased risk of developing and dying of prostate cancer” and men with a family history of the disease should also talk to their doctor “about the potential benefits and harms of screening.”

Etzioni, whose research specifically focuses on the effectiveness of screening for both prostate and breast cancers, believes more guidance may be in order.

“If we know that the cancer is more aggressive in African-American men, it suggests that they should be screened more often,” she said. “And maybe we want to start screening them at a younger age.”

How much younger?

Etzioni and her colleagues said their new findings suggest that black men should have their baseline PSA tested at least three and up to nine years earlier than men in the general population.

Etzioni’s recommendations make a lot of sense to Battle, who hopes research like hers will spotlight the higher risk of deadly prostate cancers among African Americans. Still, he realizes getting more men screened sooner may be a struggle. In general, he said, men tend to be squeamish about “anyone messing around down there for any reason.”

His own case is a good example of how men tend to have a head-in-the-sand attitude toward prostate cancer, he said. Even with nine cases of the cancer in his extended family—four of which resulted in death—Battle said he didn’t want to believe he could be next. None of his older brothers had developed the disease, he said, so cancer wasn’t an issue in his mind until his fateful PSA test.

Now, though, he gives talks to men underscoring the importance of vigilance, telling them “This is not one of those things that you should be thinking, ‘If I ignore it, it will go away.'”

From Fred Hutch News

The post Should Prostate Cancer Screening Be Different for Black Men? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We’ve written a lot lately about vitamin D and African Americans over the past few months, especially since so many of us are deficient given our darker skin (which doesn’t absorb the sunlight that is packed with vitamin D) and the fact that we consume less dairy (a common source of the vitamin). Low vitamin D levels have been linked to heart disease, asthma, flu, bacterial vaginosis, osteoporosis and glucose intolerance. It’s also believed that low vitamin D levels play a role in why we develop more prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer and get more aggressive forms of those cancers.

But that isn’t all.

A recent study may have found a link between low levels of vitamin D and multiple sclerosis (MS) in African Americans. Researchers from the University of California San Francisco found that African Americans with multiple sclerosis are more likely to have vitamin D deficiencies than African Americans who don’t have the disease.

“We have known that vitamin D levels are associated with MS and that African Americans are at increased risk for having low vitamin D levels, but little research has been done to look at vitamin D levels in African Americans with MS,” said Ari J. Green, M.D., the lead researcher for the study.

The study involved 339 people with MS and 342 people who did not have the disease. Researchers analyzed the blood vitamin D levels and the severity of the disease in each participant. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 77 percent of the people with MS, compared to 71 percent of those without the disease. The people with MS were also exposed to a lower monthly UV index (average of 3.8) than those without MS (average of 4.8).

Researchers hope that these findings will spark more conversations between black patients and their health-care providers about how much UV exposure is needed, the importance of getting tested for vitamin D levels and whether supplements would be a good choice.

Only recently has MS been found to be as common in African Americans as it is in whites, and when we do develop the disease, it’s much more severe. And that can be devastating given how MS impacts the body.

MS is a potentially debilitating autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). Basically the immune system eats away at the protective sheath that covers your nerves, which ends up interfering with the communication between your brain and the rest of your body. This may result in the deterioration of the nerves themselves, which is not reversible.

Some signs and symptoms of MS are:

Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs, which typically occurs on one side of your body at a time or the bottom half of your body
Partial or complete loss of vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain during eye movement
Double vision or blurring of vision
Tingling or pain in parts of your body
Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain head movements
Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait
Fatigue
Dizziness
MS is most commonly diagnosed between ages 20 and 40, but can be seen at any age. And while there is treatment for MS, the disease has no cure.

Learn more about MS at BET.com.

The post The Multiple Sclerosis and Vitamin D Link appeared first on Black Health Matters.

While you may not have pondered the benefits of orgasms beyond how good they feel, it’s our job to do the research. And it turns out that a sexual climax, while not essential for a good sex life, is more than just a toe-curling release; it’s also pretty healthy. So keep these five tips in mind the next time you climb between the sheets:

1. Kick pain aside. Got a bad headache or battling menstrual cramps? Studies suggest a good orgasm can more than double a woman’s tolerance for pain. One study even found that when women were in the throes of a climax, their pain thresholds increased by more than 108 percent. Researchers believe muscular contractions and chemicals released during orgasm tamp down aches.
2. Ward off heart trouble. Sexual activity and orgasm have been shown to reduce stress. And studies have found that among women, orgasms lower blood pressure, a major contributor to heart attacks and stroke.
3. Get better sleep. Post-orgasm oxytocin helps your body release endorphins, which can work better than a sleeping pill.
4. Protect against cancer. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a higher frequency of ejaculations is related to a decreased risk of prostate cancer.
5. Keep your reproductive system in working order. The extra stimulation of an orgasm causes blood to rush into the genital tissue, keeping it supple. Orgasms also strengthen the pelvic floor, helping reduce bladder leaks. And orgasms during your period protect against endometriosis, a uterine condition that can cause infertility.

Our prescription: For best results, have an orgasm at least once a week—with or without a partner.

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A recent study involving nearly 1.5 million participants has found that exercise—or as the researchers call it, a higher level of “leisure-time physical activity”—is associated with lower risk in a substantial number of cancers, bolstering previous evidence of exercise’s role in cancer risk reduction. The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, further indicate exercise can reduce the risk of cancer despite body size or smoking history. In other words, even if you’re overweight and a smoker, you can still cut down your cancer risk if you get up and move.

“Size matters in epidemiologic studies because it gives you greater power to detect associations and to examine effects in subgroups,” said Dr. Anne McTiernan, a cancer prevention researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. This study, she said, “was huuuuuge.”

Led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute, the epidemiological study cobbled together a dozen large U.S. and European prospective cohorts (groups of study participants who’d been followed for a number of years) in order to create a mega-pool of 1.44 million men and women. They then analyzed the participants’ information—their age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, self-reported data on exercise and, if applicable, cancer diagnoses—to determine the effect exercise had on various cancers. All told, 186,932 primary cancers were diagnosed during the follow up period (median follow-up was 11 years).

The evidence was significant. Exercise, already known to reduce the risk of heart disease and colon, breast and endometrial cancers, substantially lowered cancer risk in 13 of the 26 cancers examined, many by more than 20 percent.

And the benefit was much higher than that in some cases.

The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma dropped by a whopping 42 percent in people who were active, and exercise cut the risk of liver and lung cancer by 27 and 26 percent, respectively. Working out also led to a 23 percent reduced risk for kidney cancer and a 22 percent reduced risk for gastric cardia (a type of stomach cancer).

Other cancer risks dropped as follows: endometrial by 21 percent; myeloid leukemia by 20 percent; myeloma by 17 percent; colon by 16 percent; head and neck by 15 percent; rectal by 13 percent; bladder by 13 percent and breast by 10 percent.

Conversely, exercise increased the risk of malignant melanoma by 27 percent, although researchers believed this was due to increased sun exposure since this association was most often found in areas with high ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

‘No need to become an athlete.’

Exercise was also associated with a 5 percent bump in early stage prostate cancer but researchers chalked this up to the fact that physically active men are more likely to see a doctor and get screened than inactive men. The 5 percent rise, they concluded, was most likely “screening bias,” since there was no observed bump in advanced prostate cancers among active men.

Despite mountains of evidence showing the benefits of exercise, half the population of the U.S. does not meet the recommended physical activity levels (worldwide, the physical inactivity level is 31 percent).

According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s guidelines, for “substantial health benefits,” adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, with the exercise spread throughout the week rather than performed in one massive workout session. The guidelines also recommend strength-training that’s “moderate or high intensity and involves all major muscle groups” two days a week.

“The aerobics can be brisk walking,” McTiernan said. “[There’s] no need to become an athlete.”

But keep in mind: the more you exercise, the greater the health benefits. According to the U.S. guidelines, if you want more extensive health benefits, shoot for five hours a week of moderate-intensity exercise (or 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity).

McTiernan, who has conducted numerous studies on exercise as it relates to cancer prevention and survivorship, called the NCI study well-designed and well-conducted, and said the data used was from “very, well-respected cohort studies,” including the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study; the Swedish Cancer Society and NCI’s Women’s Lifestyle and Health Study; and the Women’s Health Study and Physicians’ Health Study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

There were some drawbacks, however. Although participants were fairly evenly split gender-wise, most of the participants were white, providing little information on the cancer-busting benefits of exercise in minorities. Information on the type of exercise was also limited, McTiernan said, with most of the activity recorded being aerobic (think running, walking, jogging or biking).

“It gives no information on associations with strength training,” she said. “Based on these findings, we can’t say what exercise and how much.”

She also noted the participants’ physical activity was all self-reported, which could be problematic since researchers have discovered that “people over-report their level of activity.”

Despite the drawbacks, McTiernan was enthusiastic about the findings and their public health implications.

“I’d say it’s one more reason to stay active,” she said. “It’s not a guarantee but it’s probably going to reduce risk for several cancers.”

And considering the bump in malignant melanoma, she added this advice: “Those who choose to exercise outdoors, which I highly recommend, need to use sun protection to avoid the adverse effect of sun on melanoma and other skin cancers.”

From Fred Hutch News Service

The post Exercise Curbs Risk of Some Cancers appeared first on Black Health Matters.

They might look a little funny, and it takes effort to get to the fiber-filled seeds in the center, but trust us: You need pomegranates in your shopping cart.

Pomegranates—also known as Chinese apples—are fruits cultivated throughout the Mediterranean, South Europe and California. Used for both their culinary and medicinal benefits since 3000 B.C., this vibrant red fruit is associated with health and fertility.

It’s also packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, and research supports its ability to protect against heart disease and some types of cancer. The seeds, the pulp and the juice are edible and good for you.

You should also know:

One study of heart disease patients found that a daily dose (about eight ounces) of pomegranate juice over three months showed improvements in blood flow to the heart.
Antioxidants in pomegranates include polyphenols, such as tannins and anthocyanins. Some research indicates pomegranates may have more antioxidant power than cranberry juice or green tea.
Though pomegranates can’t fight off cancer by themselves, eaten as part of a balanced, plant-based diet, they have been proved to slow prostate cancer growth. In a UCLA study, men who had already had preliminary prostate cancer therapy and who had a daily dose of pomegranate juice experienced suppressed cancer cell growth.
One cup of the juice provides 60 micrograms of folic acid, the B vitamin that helps prevent neural tube defects in newborns.
A group of phytochemicals called ellagitannins—found in pomegrantes—suppressed estrogen production in estrogen-responsive breast cancer in a study.
So peel or pour to your health!

The post Our Love Affair With Pomegranates appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Blacks have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than whites; for obese black men, that risk can quadruple as their weight increases, a recent study finds.

Roughly six in 10 prostate cancer cases occur in men older than 65, according to the American Cancer Society. For unknown reasons, it has long been known that black men, at any age, face a greater overall risk for the disease than men of other races. They also have the highest risk for aggressive prostate cancer and death.

This study, led by Wendy Barrington, an assistant professor in the school of nursing at the University of Washington, was designed to explore a possible connection between obesity and prostate cancer. Investigators analyzed data collected from nearly 3,400 black men and almost 22,700 white men between 2001 and 2011 as part of the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial. All of the men, age 55 and older, were cancer-free at the start of the trial.

During a five-year follow-up period, 270 black men and 1,453 white men in the study developed prostate cancer. Overall, there was 58 percent increased risk for prostate cancer among black men compared with white men. And obese black men had an even greater increase in risk. Very obese black men, those with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater, had a 103 percent increased prostate cancer risk compared to white men in the same weight group.

The study also found that severely obese black men had a 122 percent increased risk for low-grade (slow-moving) prostate cancer. Their risk for high-grade (fast-moving) disease was 81 percent higher. Obese white men, meanwhile, had a 33 percent higher risk for aggressive prostate cancer compared with normal-weight whites, and no greater risk for the slow-growing form.

“We did account for many differences that could affect prostate cancer risk, such as access to care, and lifestyle factors, such as diet and physical activity,” Barrington said.

Being overweight or obese has been linked to a higher risk of some other types of cancer, including colon, esophagus, kidney and pancreatic cancers, but experts say this study established only an association between race, obesity and prostate cancer, not a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Barrington said the findings should lead to a redoubling of efforts to encourage obesity prevention among black men. The study’s results should also strengthen calls for routine prostate cancer screening in high-risk populations, which now includes obese men of African descent.

“The main ‘take-home’ point for practicing physicians is to recognize that obesity has a different relationship to prostate cancer risk in African-American [men] compared to non-Hispanic white men,” Barrington said. So the reasons for the disparity could “really just speculation at this point. it could be that there’s actually a biological difference between African-American and non-Hispanic white men.”

The post Obesity Linked to Greater Prostate Cancer Risk in Blacks appeared first on Black Health Matters.

No, you can’t change the fact that you have had cancer. But you can change how you live the rest of your life, and that starts with making choices to help you stay healthy and feel as well as you can.

Your diagnosis might have forced you to focus on your health in ways you may not have thought about before getting sick. Now that your treatment is complete, it’s a good time to make changes that can have a positive impact for the rest of your life.

Eat right. This may have been tough during treatment, which often changes your sense of taste. You may have battled nausea or had little appetite. All of this can be frustrating. But now that treatment is complete, it’s time to get back to healthy eating habits. Simple changes, like increasing the variety of healthy foods you eat, can have long-term benefits. You may want to speak with a nutritionist about ways to incorporate healthy foods back into your diet.

Fight fatigue. No energy, bone-tired exhaustion, otherwise known as fatigue, is common in people being treated for cancer. Often, no matter how much rest you get, it doesn’t get better. For some people, fatigue continues for quite a while after treatment is over, which can make it hard to be active. It may sound like an oxymoron, but exercise actually helps reduce fatigue. Studies show patients who follow an exercise program tailored to their personal needs feel better physically and emotionally and can cope better, too. If you weren’t very active during treatment, your fitness, endurance and muscle strength have probably slipped, so start slowly—maybe with short walks—and build up to pre-cancer workout levels. A fitness buddy may help motivate you on days when you’d prefer not to exercise. Of course, talk to your health-care provider before you start any exercise plan.

Stop smoking. Recent research shows men who smoke are more likely to have their prostate cancer recur than men who don’t smoke.

Maintain a healthy weight. Black men already have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than other men. A recent study shows obesity quadruples that risk.

Reclaim intimacy. As soon as you receive a prostate cancer diagnosis, you should talk to your health-care team about treatment options that will let you resume an active sex life. Understand that no matter what therapy you have, there will be some impact on your sex life, though modern treatments are much better in this regard. Urologists maintain that you can have sex again, but you should understand it may be different and require time and patience. If your treatment has left your with erectile dysfunction, know that most men see an improvement within a year, after nerves heal.

Ease worry. After battling cancer, most people worry about a recurrence. Unfortunately, for many cancers there isn’t a lot of solid evidence to guide actions. Most studies have looked at lifestyle changes as a means to prevent cancer in the first place, not how to prevent it from coming back. But some recent research suggests men who exercise regularly after treatment for prostate cancer may live longer than those who don’t. More vigorous activity may be more helpful than less vigorous activity.

The post After Prostate Cancer Treatment appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Cauliflower, a white cruciferous vegetable, is in the same family as broccoli, kale, cabbage and collards. And like its crunchy relatives, cauliflower yields top-notch health benefits at little cost to you. A half-cup of cooked cauliflower contains only 15 calories and is both fat and sodium free. Here, our top five reasons you need to add this vegetable to your menu:

Cauliflower is packed with antioxidants (specifically manganese and vitamin C), which are essential for the body’s overall health and crucial to lowering the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke. Antioxidants are also essential in destroying free radicals, which accelerate the signs of aging.
Cauliflower has omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin K, which help prevent chronic inflammation that can lead to arthritis, chronic pain and some bowel conditions.
A great source of dietary fiber, cauliflower is an essential aid for optimal digestion.
Several studies link cauliflower to a significant reduction in the risk of cancer, particularly bladder, breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancers. In fact, one Canadian study found a daily half-cup of cauliflower reduced the risk of prostate cancer by 52 percent. The connection between cauliflower and cancer prevention shouldn’t be surprising, since cauliflower provides support for three body systems (detox, antioxidant and inflammatory systems) closely tied to cancer development. Chronic imbalances in any of these three systems can raise the risk of developing cancer, and when imbalances in all three systems occur simultaneously, the risk of cancer increases dramatically.
Allicin, which reduces the occurrence of heart disease and stroke, is found in cauliflower, making a diet rich in the vegetable a heart-healthy choice. In addition, cauliflower can help lower bad cholesterol levels.
Try this cauliflower recipe one night this week. It takes 25 minutes to prepare:

Vegetable Curry

1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil

1 cup diced peeled sweet potato

1 cup small cauliflower florets

1/4 cup thinly sliced yellow onion

2 teaspoons Madras curry powder

1/2 cup organic vegetable broth

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained

1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt

Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sweet potato to pan; sauté 3 minutes. Decrease heat to medium. Add cauliflower, onion and curry powder; cook 1 minute, stirring mixture constantly. Add broth, salt, chickpeas and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with cilantro; serve with yogurt. Serves 4

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Men, keep doctor’s visits to a minimum—something we know you’ll champion—by looking in your kitchen. As men age, their chances of being diagnosed with health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and prostate cancer increase. None of those conditions are a foregone conclusion, though black men are at an increased risk for developing many of them. The encouraging news, however, is that lifestyle habits—particularly what you eat—can make a huge difference in staying healthy.

To increase your risk of staying health through diet, focus on foods—like the seven best foods for  men as they age listed below—that have been shown to boost health and reduce the likelihood of a bad meeting with your doctor:

1. Avocados, loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, may help keep cholesterol levels low—something men need as they age. Plus, they’ve been linked to weight loss and lower levels of inflammation. A medium California avocado has about 230 calories, about 10 grams of fiber and about 20 grams of fat. How to get more in your diet: Besides the obvious guacamole, avocado is easily added to salads, burgers, omelets, sandwiches and tacos.
2. Beans help keep heart disease and diabetes at bay. A scientific review of 26 clinical trials published in the Canadian Medical Journal found eating 3/4 of a cup of beans daily could lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels by 5 percent, which reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke. Another study, from the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that people with type 2 diabetes who ate 1 cup of beans daily over a three-month period experienced lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure. One cup of kidney beans, cooked, has approximately 225 calories, 15 grams of protein, 13 grams of fiber and a gram of fat. How to get more in your diet: Beans work well in salads or as filling for tacos and burritos.
3. Berries may be little, but they have big health benefits. Blueberries and strawberries reduce the risk of heart disease in women, some studies have found that blueberries, black raspberries and strawberries all contain cancer-fighting properties, and some berries may lessen the risk of dementia. How to get more in your diet: Snack on berries or toss them in salads, yogurt or cereal.
4. Eggs are wonderful sources of protein, which is good because as men age, their muscle mass decreases, and protein helps boost dwindling muscles. The breakfast staple also has lutein, which may lower the risk of the macular degeneration, an eye condition that causes blindness. How to get more in your diet: Scramble them, fry them, boil them, poach them—and eat them for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
5. Kefir, fermented milk with probiotics, promotes healthy bacteria in our intestines, may help patients with diabetes keep blood sugar levels even and may help ward off gastrointestinal problems that occur later in life. How to get more in your diet: Kefir is sort of like yogurt you drink. Have a glass of it plain, use it in smoothies or add it to cereal.
6. Mushrooms give dishes—even no-meat ones—a meatier taste with not a lot of calories (only 20 per cup). They’re also an excellent source of potassium, which helps counteract sodium and lowers blood pressure. They boost your immune system, too, so you might want to stock up on them to prevent colds and flu this fall. How to get more in your diet: Throw them on a salad, chop them up for vegetarian lasagna, grill them or make a veggie mushroom burger.
7. Tart cherries work as an anti-inflammatory, which reduces inflammation from strenuous workouts. A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports that looked at tart cherries and athletes found those who drank the juice exhibited enhanced muscle function recovery and less pain after exercise. The red fruit may also help minimize the pain of osteoarthritis and gout and has been linked to better sleep. How to get more in your diet: Snack on cherries, especially from April to August, when they’re in season. During the rest of the year, drink tart cherry juice.

The post Best Foods for Men After Age 50 appeared first on Black Health Matters.

When we often speak of improving black health, the conversation usually focuses on black women and children—rarely does it include black men. And that’s unfortunate, given that African-American men are more likely to die from a range of health issues compared to their white counterparts.
Thankfully Project Brotherhood (PB), a Chicago-based organization, chooses to take the health needs of black men very seriously. Nestled in the South Side neighborhood of Woodlawn, PB provides a range of medical and social services to ensure that their clients have access to care.
We sat down with the Project Brotherhood’s Executive Director Marcus Murray and Youth Coordinator Perrin Greene Jr. and talked about the obstacles men face in accessing care and the impact that gun violence has on the black men’s mental health.
What are some of the major barriers that African-American men face in accessing health care?
Murray: First, there is a huge mistrust of the medical community and not enough hospitals in the ‘hood. We also don’t see enough medical providers that look like you and talk like you. There is also the pressure of being macho and thinking that if you go to the doctor then you are weak.
But the time that clinics are open is also a factor. Most clinics are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and if you can’t take off work, you can’t get the care that you need. Project Brotherhood closes at 7 p.m. to avoid that problem. Most important, our clinic is male-centered with posters in the clinic showing faces of men, which invites men to know that this clinic is about them, for them.
What are some of the programs and initiatives that Project Brotherhood does for men in the community?
Murray: Obviously we provide all types of medical care and screenings such as diabetes, HIV and other health issues at our onsite clinic. But we realized that it’s important to provide social services, too, such as support groups, free haircuts, meal programs and programs that talk about what it means to be a man.
We help brothers prepare for jobs, help them with their resumes and open up email accounts for them. We also refer them to other places for help. For us, health is physical, mental, emotional and economic. And if one of those things is off, the man is not healthy.
Greene: Unfortunately a lot of projects for younger black men have been cut due to lack of funding, but we provide mentoring through sports, summer programs, college tours and job shadowing. We also do street outreach, were we pass out health packets that include a sandwich, condoms and information about PB.
Health is more than just the body. How has gun violence affected your clients’ mental health?
Greene: Gun violence has had a deep impact on our clients. The baby that was shot and killed in the car hit really close to home. It happened in our neighborhood.
And so we talk about exercise and physical, but a lot of men don’t feel safe being active outside and don’t know where to go. Project Brotherhood serves as a safe haven, not just as a safe place to work out and play basketball, but to talk about one’s feelings.
And it’s not easy, because mental health care in our community comes with a lot of stigma. Plus, society tells men you are not supposed to share your emotions and if you do, you are weak. Thankfully, we have found that our support groups have made a difference and we make our male clients feel comfortable and supported.
Any words of wisdom to encourage better health for our male readers?
Greene: Stay true to yourself and get a physical, regardless [of] if you feel fine or nothing is swollen or broken. Get your HIV test, your prostate cancer screening and blood pressure checked. Early prevention is key.
Murray: It’s about being that warrior. Understanding that it’s deeper than you.
We need you to be around, be here for your kids and be better leaders. So take ownership of you life, your health and your body.
For more about men’s health and Project Brotherhood, go to BET.com.

The post Health Hero: Fighting for Men’s Health on the South Side of Chicago appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Prostate cancer kills more black men than any other group in the world, yet there is still little consistent screening and early detection guidelines or prevention strategies for them. This information, from a new Moffitt Cancer Center review, concludes that more focus on this cancer in black men is needed to reduce their risk of developing or dying of the disease.
“Much of the evidence we have today on how to prevent or treat this disease is based to a large extent on clinical trials with large numbers of European American men and not sufficient numbers of African-American or black men,” says study author Nagi B. Kumar, Ph.D., director of Cancer Chemoprevention at Moffitt. “Since recent studies have shown a biological difference in prostate tumors between African Americans and European American men, research on prevention and treatment strategies that targets this high-risk group is urgently needed.”
In the review, researchers identify several natural compounds that show promise in reducing the risk of prostate cancer in black men and lament the lack of clinical trials seeking alternative screening methods and interventions targeted specifically for this group.
To this end, Moffitt has launched a clinical trial to determine the safety and effectiveness of a botanical agent, isoflavones, on black men with prostate cancer.

The post New Clinical Trial Studies Alternative Therapies for Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A recent survey by the American Academy of Family Physicians found what women already know: 38 percent of men go to the doctor only when they’re extremely sick or when symptoms don’t dissipate on their own. (The study didn’t mention guys who go when their significant others make them!) But waiting for health issues to get better could lead to serious complications—or worse: a late diagnosis.
Stop waiting around, guys! If you experience any of the following five symptoms, do not pass go, do not collect $200; head straight to your doctor’s office.

1. Blood in your urine. If it you can see it with your naked eye, there’s a problem. Bloody urine is a main symptom of an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. It could also be a sign of stones or cancer in your bladder or kidney; inflammation or infection of the bladder, kidney or urethra; or a kidney injury.
2. Chest pain. Yes, chest pain is most associated with a heart attack, but it could be caused by another heart problem, like angina. Asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary embolisms, acid reflux and stomach ulcers could also show up as chest pain.
3. Dizziness. That light-headed, room-spinning sensation can happen if there’s a sudden drop in blood pressure or from dehydration. If you have allergies, flu or hypoglycemia, you might also get dizzy. It also can indicate a serious health risk like heart disease, shock or stroke.
4. Erectile dysfunction. Sure, it happens to everybody at one time or another, but roughly 70 percent of cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by another medical condition, including diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or multiple sclerosis.
5. Excessive thirst. Find yourself reaching for the water bottle a lot more than usual? Excessive thirst can be an indication you have a health condition such as diabetes, internal bleeding, severe infection, or a failure of the heart, liver or kidneys.

The post 5 Warning Symptoms Men Shouldn’t Ignore appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Sex doesn’t just feel good; it’s also good for your health. But our lives are so busy that we sometimes push it to the bottom (or off) of our must-do lists. Here are seven reasons (one for each day of the week) to move it back to the top—and make sure it gets checked off:

1. Pain reduction. Sex (and orgasms) increases our levels of oxytocin, which makes endorphins (feel-good hormones) increase and pain decrease. So forget reaching for ibuprofen the next time you have a headache or crazy-bad menstrual cramps; grab your honey instead.
2. Stronger immune system. Boost your levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that can help protect against colds and infections, with a simple roll in the hay twice a week.
3. Better sleep. Research links a good night’s sleep to slowed aging, a healthy weight and lower blood pressure. Hormones released during orgasm promote sleep. We’re all for anything that helps us get those all-important eight hours a night!
4. Stress relief. You don’t need us to tell you that feeling overwhelmed and overworked 24/7 is just bad news. Research shows that sex has the same soothing effect as sweet comfort foods when it comes to easing stress—without the calories.
5. Cancer prevention. Some studies suggest male orgasms and testicle stimulation may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
6. A healthy heart. Several studies show your risk of dying from a stroke or heart attack goes down as the frequency of your good orgasms increase over time. Think of it as another way to get your cardio. Though sex only burns about 100 to 200 calories (depending on intensity), it’s still a workout.
7. Happier mood. Biochemical reactions in our bodies during sex help improve our mood. That’s a scientific-y way to say an intimate connection makes you happy.

All this and better skin (no, that morning-after glow isn’t a myth)? What are you waiting for?

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