Honoring Juneteenth: Fighting Prostate Cancer Disparities in the Black Community

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorates the abolition of slavery in the United States. It also serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and justice. In the context of health disparities in prostate cancer, this day encourages us to advocate for equitable access to health education, support, and treatment, since prostate cancer disproportionately affects African American men, who are more likely to be diagnosed and face more aggressive forms of the disease when compared to all men in the general population.

Health Equity in Prostate Cancer: A Personal Mission

As a Black man leading ZERO's mission work, addressing these racial disparities in prostate cancer isn't just professional—it's deeply personal. The statistics aren't just numbers on a page. Learning that Black men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and face more aggressive forms of this disease, I see the faces of my father, my uncles, my brothers, my friends. I see my own reflection.

Freedom means little if we aren't truly free to live long, healthy lives. What good is liberty if health inequities cut our journeys short? I don't just acknowledge these disparities as statistics. Every day, I come to work driven by the faces of my community members who deserve better, and I'm committed to leading our bold actions until every man has an equal chance at survival, regardless of his background.

Breaking Down Barriers to Prostate Cancer Care

At ZERO Prostate Cancer, we believe no one should die from prostate cancer because of the color of their skin, their bank account, or their zip code. We are committed to advancing equitable access to education and support resources for all who are at risk for prostate cancer, especially those at highest risk: African American men, veterans, and men living in rural communities.

This conviction has led us to embark on the most ambitious project in the history of U.S. prostate cancer programs and services: our Blitz the Barriers Initiative—an unprecedented $20 million investment over the next three years in a health equity initiative that focuses on twelve initial urban and rural communities where the greatest disparities exist. When I walk through these communities, I see beyond the data points—I see neighbors, families, and potential that must not be cut short by a treatable disease.

Our approach provides a groundbreaking mix of national collaboration and highly focused local outreach, education, support, and navigation, combined with a technological infrastructure to allow for centralized interventions and prostate cancer awareness campaigns in both pilot communities and at the national level.

Resources Making a Difference Today

This initiative builds on our current portfolio of patient-facing resources available for all portions of our community. We're not waiting for tomorrow to make a difference. Today, we offer:

• Support Groups and MENtor Program: Connecting patients with others who share similar diagnoses and care partners who provide encouragement, understanding, and support related to your specific stage of disease and treatment choices.
• Educational Materials and Programs: Empowering patients and care partners with the latest breakthroughs in prostate cancer and treatment therapies, ensuring those at risk or living with a diagnosis have access to critical information.
• Advocacy: Mobilizing our community to support policies that address barriers to screening and early detection, while fighting for equitable access to healthcare and treatment for all, especially those at the highest risk.

Juneteenth and the Continued Fight for Health Equity

Juneteenth teaches us that liberation requires both celebration and continued action, a lesson mirrored by our continued fight against the health disparities millions of Americans face every day. While we celebrate the successes that have come before, we have to continue looking toward a future where prostate cancer detection is early, support is unwavering, and care is accessible to all.

Today, I invite you to join me. Not just as supporters of a cause, but as champions of true freedom—the freedom to live long, healthy lives regardless of race, income, or geography. Until health equity is achieved for all, the promise of Juneteenth remains unfulfilled. Together, we can write a new chapter in our nation's story; one where freedom means health, hope, and freedom for all.

—Brian Bragg, Chief Mission Officer