( ENSPIRE Health & Wellness ) New Study Shows Disproportionate Amount Of Black Men Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer
ENSPIRE Contributor: Aiden Sandoval
Prostate cancer has always been an awful and horrible disease to have, but especially in America, it seems to have primarily affected Black men the most. The United States in general has a significant amount of health disparity that to this day hasn’t really gone away. While nowadays, we have modern technology to detect and treat prostate cancer, there’s been no natural “cure” for it, as even eradicating cancer itself has a chance of coming back. It’s essential to recognize that while prostate cancer can affect any man, it’s been a disproportionate increase of black men who have gotten the disease. One big question you might have is: what IS prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system just below the bladder. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. As the tumor grows, it can damage nearby organs causing erectile dysfunction, blood in the urine or semen, and issues with normal urination. Some tumors spread to other areas of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes. There, tumors cause severe bone pain, leg weakness or paralysis, and eventually death. Most cases of prostate cancer are detected by prostate cancer screening programs. These typically rely on regular blood tests for levels of prostate-specific antigen, which are elevated in those with prostate cancer or other conditions affecting the prostate. Prostate cancer is more common the older you are, with most cases in men older than 60 years. Those with a family history of prostate cancer are more likely to have prostate cancer themselves, as are African-American men.
The rise in Black men being diagnosed with prostate cancer has been slowly increasing for years, but nobody has really brought awareness about it for many years. However, an organization has come up to help spread the news and help people properly understand. They are known as The Balm In Gilead Inc. They’re a national non-profit organization that’s existed for 35 years and is planning a free webinar titled “Talk That Talk: Prostate Cancer and Black Men” on June 27th, 2023. Its purpose is to help people understand how prostate cancer can disproportionately target Black men, and what we can do to prevent it.
While prostate cancer is a prevalent disease, it’s been unfortunately affecting Black men the most. There have been many attempts at finding the root cause of it and trying to treat it, but there are also several measures individuals can take to reduce their risk. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and avoiding smoking, can help prevent the development of prostate cancer. Routine screening and early detection can lead to faster treatment and higher chances of successful recovery. Therefore, it is important for men to remain proactive in their health and well-being and prioritize regular check-ups with their healthcare providers to detect any potential issues early on.
Learn more at The Balm In Gilead.
Related Articles: Young Entrepreneur Battles Cancer as He Launches His Business, Mielle Organics and Susan G. Komen Partner to Fight Breast Cancer
