Healthy Living: Local News
The African-American prostate cancer "crisis"
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Story Updated: Jul 27, 2011
For decades scientists have been baffled by why prostate cancer has continued killing African-American men at rates more than double any other US other group. New research is revealing there is a genetic link. What some African-American prostate cancer survivors call a crisis in their community may also be caused from a lack of treatment and screening.
Like many African-American men, 66-year-old Will Robinson, from Anchorage, says he lived in denial prostate cancer would ever come into his life, until the day that changed his life.
"Just ignored it," Robinson says. "I was able to put it in God's hands at that point and time."
As Will prepared for his life saving surgery, his younger brother, 61-year-old Thomas, felt a sudden urge to have a simple blood test done.
"We didn't even know it was going on between the two of us, right when he had his operation," Thomas says.
Through that PSA blood test Thomas was looking to see if he had high prostate protein blood levels. That is the usual first indication suggesting prostate cancer.
"And then, at that point and time, he found out also," Will added as these already close Anchorage brothers abruptly had a new bond.
"What are the odds of two brothers coming out with prostate cancer in the same time frame?" Thomas says.
The odds of African-American men developing prostate cancer is now much better understood. A newly discovered genetic mutation shows carriers may have triple the prostate cancer risk. However, there is another part to this equation: it also appears a great number of African-American men are dying because they're not getting screened or having access to care.
"Very rarely, very rarely did I see very many other black men at the time I was going there getting screened," Thomas says.
A Center for Prostate Disease Research study looked at prostate cancer patients who received equal military health treatments. Out of the 797 prostate cancer patients treated from 1988-1999, 587 were Caucasian and 195 were African-American. The study concluded both races had relatively similar outcomes when treated early.
"The reason for us is to sell our testimony with other young African-American men in our age group to get early screening," Thomas says.
"Because so many people are dying from it. And it's not necessary. It's not necessary," Will added.
That is why the Robinson brothers are determined to make sure their community knows every African-American man must know the risk no matter what the age, and start getting annual PSA blood tests when they turn 45.
"Share the information and let them know there is hope," Will says. "There is hope."
The Robinson brothers hope men in their community hear their warning and go get a PSA blood test sometime during minority cancer awareness week, April 18-24.
For more information, click here.
To contact the Newsroom, call 907-274-1111.
Like many African-American men, 66-year-old Will Robinson, from Anchorage, says he lived in denial prostate cancer would ever come into his life, until the day that changed his life.
"Just ignored it," Robinson says. "I was able to put it in God's hands at that point and time."
As Will prepared for his life saving surgery, his younger brother, 61-year-old Thomas, felt a sudden urge to have a simple blood test done.
"We didn't even know it was going on between the two of us, right when he had his operation," Thomas says.
Through that PSA blood test Thomas was looking to see if he had high prostate protein blood levels. That is the usual first indication suggesting prostate cancer.
"And then, at that point and time, he found out also," Will added as these already close Anchorage brothers abruptly had a new bond.
"What are the odds of two brothers coming out with prostate cancer in the same time frame?" Thomas says.
The odds of African-American men developing prostate cancer is now much better understood. A newly discovered genetic mutation shows carriers may have triple the prostate cancer risk. However, there is another part to this equation: it also appears a great number of African-American men are dying because they're not getting screened or having access to care.
"Very rarely, very rarely did I see very many other black men at the time I was going there getting screened," Thomas says.
A Center for Prostate Disease Research study looked at prostate cancer patients who received equal military health treatments. Out of the 797 prostate cancer patients treated from 1988-1999, 587 were Caucasian and 195 were African-American. The study concluded both races had relatively similar outcomes when treated early.
"The reason for us is to sell our testimony with other young African-American men in our age group to get early screening," Thomas says.
"Because so many people are dying from it. And it's not necessary. It's not necessary," Will added.
That is why the Robinson brothers are determined to make sure their community knows every African-American man must know the risk no matter what the age, and start getting annual PSA blood tests when they turn 45.
"Share the information and let them know there is hope," Will says. "There is hope."
The Robinson brothers hope men in their community hear their warning and go get a PSA blood test sometime during minority cancer awareness week, April 18-24.
For more information, click here.
To contact the Newsroom, call 907-274-1111.
