National Minority Health Month is observed every year in April to call attention to the health disparities that persist among racial and ethnic minority populations and the ways in which society can help advance health equality.
Download “Straight-Talk: A Guide for African-American Men and Their Families“.
Download “Prostate Cancer Patient Guide“.
At the Prostate Cancer Foundation, we’ve been investing in research that targets these disparities for over 20 years.
Each year 3 million men in the U.S. battle prostate cancer and on average 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime. However, there are significant racial disparities of the impact of the disease, particularly for men of African descent. Compared to men of other ethnicities, men of African descent are 74% more likely to develop Prostate Cancer and 2.4 times more likely to die of it. Research indicates a number of disparities for men of African descent including longer wait times between diagnosis and treatment, more sides effects and higher costs of care.
This April, PCF is urging men of African descent to Know The Numbers. Take the quiz below to understand your risk, and share with everyone you know to help raise awareness towards closing the disparity gap.
“It was shocking for me to learn that African-American men have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the U.S. for most cancers and that prostate cancer is the number one diagnosed cancer among veterans. It’s imperative that the black community understand the risks and do as much as possible to increase their chances of surviving or even better, preventing the disease by making certain lifestyle changes.” – Chris Tucker