Black Men and Prostate Cancer

Black/African American men are much more likely to get and die from prostate cancer than other men. Find more information and resources for Black men.

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A higher risk

Black and African American men are much more likely to develop prostate cancer. One in six Black men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime—compared to one in eight men overall.

Black men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with—and 2.1 times more likely to die from—prostate cancer than white men. Black men are also slightly more likely than white men to be diagnosed with advanced disease.

While there is no clear reason for these differences, several factors can impact cancer risk and outcomes in the Black and African American community.

  • Because of historical context, race in the United States is correlated with socioeconomic status, and lower socioeconomic status is correlated with increased cancer risk and worse outcomes.
  • Black men may be harmed by racial bias in preventive care. They are less likely than white men to be offered the option of having a PSA test and are more likely than white men to be told that the benefits of the PSA test are uncertain.
  • A recent study found that African American men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer were less likely than white men to receive any type of treatment for that cancer.

The good news is that prostate cancer is very treatable when detected early.

Black men and prostate cancer by the numbers

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Black Men and Prostate Cancer by the Numbers Infographic page 1
Black Men and Prostate Cancer by the Numbers Infographic page 2

If you want to print the Black Men and Prostate Cancer by the Numbers infographic, please click here.

Have you been diagnosed with prostate cancer?

We can help you. Check out these tools and resources we have developed for patients like you.

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