Prioritizing Prostate Health: Early Screening for Black Men

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...