How I Turned My Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Into a Mission For Change

Photo courtesy of PAN Foundation Prostate cancer is a diagnosis that reshapes lives. For William (Bill) Allen Jr., a prostate cancer survivor and advocate, his diagnosis in 2004 was not just a personal challenge but a springboard to a broader mission: to advocate for equitable healthcare access, promote clinical trials, and empower underserved communities, particularly people of color, with knowledge and resources. A Diagnosis That Changed Everything In 2004, during a routine check-up, Bill’s doctor noticed an abnormality that led to a biopsy confirming prostate cancer. At 54, with no family history of the disease, Bill was blindsided.  “Hearing the word ‘cancer’ can be pretty devastating, to say the least. It was an earth-shattering diagnosis, especially because I lacked knowledge about it. You don’t expect that kind of news at the age of 54,” Allen tells BlackDoctor.org. The lack of available knowledge at the time added to the overwhelming nature of his diagnosis.  “My wife and I discussed the diagnosis extensively, trying to understand what it meant. We had two sons at the time—one was 26 and the other 23. The older one was planning his wedding for the next year, so I decided not to tell them until I...