One in eight men overall has the potential to develop prostate cancer, but more at risk are the one in six Black men likely to suffer from the disease. Screenings for prostate cancer are typically recommended to begin around age 50, but increased alert over higher incidence of prostate cancer among Black men has moved medical professionals to recommend Black men begin their screenings at age 40.
People with a family history of early prostate cancer diagnosis (before 65), especially fathers or brothers, are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
Men at the age of 50 who are at average risk can potentially live ten years longer if the cancer is detected and treated early enough. The other reason for men at 40 to be screened early is that early prostate cancer doesn’t present with the typical symptom of difficult urination.
Not all Black men reach a severe stage of prostate cancer, but roughly 70 percent are at risk of developing it, and twice as likely to die from it, especially if there’s a history of type 2 diabetes.
Having diabetes does not make someone more likely to develop prostate cancer, but it does result in a higher mortality rate for those who do. Considering diabetes hits the Black community twice as hard, it’s now more important to keep those things in check to avoid what’s called comorbidities, or the presence of two or more diseases in one patient.
RELATED: Prostate Health and Aging: Your Guide to Navigating this Common Health Challenge
The first step in the prostate cancer screening process is a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. PSA is a protein made by the prostate.
High levels of PSA in blood test results may indicate possible cancer, but it’s important to know that other factors unrelated to cancer can cause PSA levels to rise. Having an enlarged or inflamed prostate, bicycling, ejaculation, or even just aging can raise PSA levels. Certain procedures such as a urological biopsy can also contribute to increased PSA, as well as medications like prescribed testosterone.
Levels of PSA that doctors consider normal for men in their 40s and 50s are 0.6-0.7 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml). A score above 2.5 ng/ml is considered abnormal.
There are at-home PSA tests available for purchase. However, completing the test with a doctor is recommended so that you are both following the process together and questions can be more easily answered in real-time.
PSA levels vary over time and slowly rise with age, so repeated tests may be necessary to accurately monitor said levels.
The other less popular choice for determining the presence of prostate cancer is the digital rectal exam, whereby a proctologist inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for irregularities like bumps or hard areas on the prostate.
While it’s a less effective method than the PSA blood test, a few seconds of discomfort could lengthen your life if something out of the ordinary is immediately detected.
RELATED: Men: Knowing Your PSA Number May Save Your Life
Researchers at City of Hope Hospital conducted a small clinical trial to determine why Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to their non-Black peers. The results concluded four biomarkers related to metabolism are linked to increased incidence of prostate cancer, particularly in West African men. Biomarkers are measurable substances found in organisms that indicate the presence of some form of disease or infection.
A byproduct of metabolism called methylglyoxal (MG) is carried by diabetes patients in higher concentrations and creates instability within normal functioning cells consistent with tumor growth. In short, excess sugar causes cell damage, weakening it for any cancer to mutate.
Talk to a medical professional if there is indeed a family history of prostate cancer in your family. There are baseline tests available that can help assess your risk of developing this disease to ensure a fruitful and proactive future.
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