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Recent studies show Black men are most at-risk for prostate cancer

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Black men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 2.1 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than white men according to recent studies from the American Cancer Society and Zero Cancer.

The American Cancer Society shows that this disparity between races is true for most cancers in the United States.

While there is no definite answer as to why this gap exists, one radiation oncologist at Trident Medical Center, Dr. Vince Grzywacz, said genetics, environmental factors, diet, access to healthcare and environmental carcinogens seem to contribute to this disparity. According to Zero Cancer, racial bias can also play a huge role in this stating that Black men are less likely 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.”

Grzywacz said that he highly recommends discussing prostate examinations with your doctor. He said that most prostate cancer deaths are a result of the cancer not being caught early enough. He said that when signs and symptoms are seen, the cancer is usually much farther along and much less treatable.

Read the full article by WSCS Live 5 here

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