Black men: Get the gift of life
For Christmas have your prostate screened

The risk of attracting prostate cancer is 60 percent higher for African American men than White men. Black men, diagnosed with prostate cancer, will die twice the rate of White men. And for men of all ethnicities, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death by cancer.

More men, according to the “dad” campaign, are diagnosed with prostate cancer than women are with breast cancer. Additionally, “research funding mandated by the federal government for breast cancer outpaces prostate cancer about $870 million to approximately $485 million.

While 49 states mandate that health insurance companies’ cover mammography screenings, only 28 states have legislation requiring health insurance companies cover prostate screenings.

According to the Center for Disease and Prevention, annual prostate screening in Washington, D.C. dipped five percent to 53 percent in 2005. This reduction, according to medical experts, is alarming because the nation’s Capitol has the highest incident of prostate mortality in the country; 51 out of every 100,000 men will die; the national rate is 30.3 per 100,000.

Many of these daunting statistics were revealed at a National Faith-Based Board of Governors Luncheon held on Capitol Hill. Sponsored by the “dad” (Detection and Diagnosis) campaign, the luncheon joined Faith-based leaders with elected officials to discuss strategies for advocating how the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in America can be reduced.

Launched in January 2006, the “dad” campaign, the nation’s first major men’s health care initiative solely dedicated to addressing a life threatening disease, utilizes a “five partner” (industries) – entertainment, sports, corporate, faith-based and political – approach to delivering life-saving information on prostate cancer.

“Five industries play a key role in the success of bringing awareness to men and the people who love them,” explained Stephan Bell, director of Political Relations and Fund Development for the campaign. “Our goal is to get as much information to the public, to the men and the people who love them,” said Bell. “[We want] to increase the awareness of the importance of early [stage I] detection of prostate cancer.”

Entertainers Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier and Quincy Jones; sports personalities Frank Robinson, the former Washington Nationals manager and Joe Torre, manager of the New York Yankees; Minister Louis Farrakhan and Bishops Desmond Tutu and G.E. Patterson; noted surgeon Dr. Ben Carson, business leader Earl G. Graves Sr., and politicians Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) and Senators Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Jeff Session (R-Ala.) are prostate cancer survivors.

It is suggested by medical experts that Black men begin prostate testing at age 40. Vann Pettaway, Alabama A&M’s head basketball coach, diagnosed with the disease in 2004 at age 44, to his surprise suffered form an aggressive form of the disease. In excellent physical condition as a result working out with his team, Pettaway was surprised, not only to learn that he had prostate cancer, but that the disease was advanced; an indication that Pettaway fail to be tested early.

Medical experts also suggest that African American men who have a family member – grandfather, father or brother – diagnosed with the disease be tested no later than age 35. Because of the devastation caused by the disease in Black men, some advocates suggest that all African American men be tested their ‘30s.


Seven things Black men must know about prostate cancer!

1) Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death by cancer in African American men.

2) African American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world.

3) More than 5,000 African American men will die of the disease in 2006; 30,770 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

4) Prostate caner has no identifiable symptoms during Stage I, the earliest of the four stages. However, if the undiagnosed disease progresses, symptoms will include the following:
a. A need to urinate frequently, especially at night,
b. Difficulties when beginning to urinate,
c. Eventually an inability to urinate will follow,
d. Weak or interrupted flow when urinating,
e. Painful or burning when urinating.

5) The chances of being diagnosed with prostate cancer increases with each immediate relative (father, brother) who has the disease.

6) African American men should get annual prostate screening, to include a digital rectum exam (physical) and PSA [prostate specific antigen] examine determined by blood works.

7) According to Dr. Richard N. Atkins, CEO of National Prostate Cancer Coalition, the diet consumed by African American men – red meat and diet with high fat content – enhances their risk of attracting prostate cancer.

Please go get screened, and have a Merry Christmas & A Happy Extended Life

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