For all men, particularly Black men, sharing and bringing awareness to their prostate cancer risk and health history may mean celebrating more Father’s Days with their loved ones. According to the American Cancer Society, talking to your family members about their medical history is one way to know if you are at higher risk of prostate cancer and if screening may be right for you.
Studies show that prostate cancer seems to run in some families, and in those cases, there may be an inherited or genetic factor that contributes to prostate cancer risk. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease during their lifetime. The risk is much higher for men with several affected relatives, particularly if those relatives were young when the cancer was found.
In the US, Black men have the highest prostate cancer incidence rate and tend to develop the disease at a younger age than other men. They are over twice as likely to die from prostate cancer and are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage compared to White men.
Considering the higher incidence and mortality rates among Black men, increasing screening rates may be the key to catching more prostate cancers early and saving more lives.
“It’s clear that Black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer and more needs to be done to get the word out to the community about screening and early detection,” said Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, ACS board member and President of Howard University. “Bringing access and awareness to the Black community about medical treatments and opportunities to join clinical trials may make a big difference in curbing these statistics.”
PSA Test
Prostate cancer can often be found early by testing for prostate-specific antigen levels in a man’s blood.
The PSA test requires a simple blood draw. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood.
PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males. PSA is mostly found in semen, which also is produced in the prostate. Small amounts of PSA ordinarily circulate in the blood.
The PSA test can detect high levels of PSA that may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. However, many other conditions, such as an enlarged or inflamed prostate, also can increase PSA levels. Therefore, determining what a high PSA score means can be complicated.
When prostate cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat, which is why screening tests are so crucial.
It’s said that self-reported screening rates with prostate-specific antigen testing among Black men are slightly lower (31%) than in White men (38%).
ACS recommends that men at high risk, including Black men, begin talking to their health care providers about screening for prostate cancer at age 45.
Understanding the Symptoms and Risk Factors
Aside from screening, knowing the symptoms and risk factors for prostate cancer is another way Black men can prioritize their health. It’s important to know that early prostate cancer normally doesn’t cause symptoms; however, in some cases men may have symptoms though it is less common. These symptoms include problems urinating, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night, and blood in the urine or semen.
More advanced prostate cancer symptoms include those listed above and can sometimes present as trouble getting an erection, bone pain in the hips, spine, chest, or other areas. Other symptoms include weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control, from cancer in the spine pressing on the spinal cord, weight loss, and feeling very tired.
While most of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than prostate cancer, it is important to be aware and tell your health care provider if you are experiencing these symptoms.
While not all men are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, there are some factors that may play a key role in increasing a person’s chance of contracting it. Understanding these factors may be critical when deciding to get screened for prostate cancer.
Age a Risk Factor
In addition to race and family history, one of the factors researchers have found to be linked to prostate cancer is older age. The chances of having prostate cancer increases quickly after age 50. It is reported that about 6 in 10 prostate cancers are found in men older than 65.