Monday 1 November, 2021 sees the launch of our Prostate cancer awareness campaign.
Raising awareness of prostate cancer with and for Black men is important because Black men are at twice as much risk of prostate cancer and from a younger age, than other men. Prostate cancer affects 1 in 4 men from Black African, Caribbean and Black British communities. A far higher rate than the 1 in 8 men it affects from other communities. In addition to this startling statistic, Black men are also at risk from the age of 45 rather than 50 years old, as in other men. If they have symptoms, Black men are less likely to act on them and visit their doctor. This means that if it is cancer, it can be harder to treat. This latest campaign aims to raise awareness and using real-life experiences of Black men who have been for their PSA test to reassure other men, that the risks must be addressed and that going to see your GP really can make a difference.
Wessex Cancer Alliance, with support from Dorset Race Equality Council and Wessex Voices, are listening to and working with Black men, their partners and other organisations in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to understand how aware men are of this heightened risk.
Together, they are also exploring the barriers men face which can prevent them seeking help.
From the conversations, it is clear that the following issues need to be considered and addressed:
- GP awareness about health issues for the Black community generally, and specifically heightened prostate cancer risk
- Black men’s general awareness of their health and access to health services
- Black men’s and community awareness of their higher risk of prostate cancer
- Men’s awareness of the current tests for prostate cancer
- Stigma around prostate cancer and the possibility of having a rectal examination
We ask our stakeholders to share the campaign messaging – you can download a copy of our communications toolkit here.
