One in six Black men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetimes, compared to one in eight White men. Black men are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age, with more aggressive disease, and are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer.
To bring awareness to this disparity and show their support during Black History Month, the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) teamed up with the Atlanta Hawks basketball team for the fifth annual Black History Month Assist Challenge, and with Black celebrities like Steve Harvey, Charlamagne tha God, Cedric the Entertainer and Chris Tucker for their multi-front campaign “Black Men: Know Your Risk”.
Knowledge is Power
The campaign urges the importance of screening and early detection through a wealth of educational resources that empower men to take charge of their health, including patient guides, video interviews with prostate cancer disparity experts, a powerful PSA, and free awareness kits.
In their PSA, Steve Harvey leads off with data on prostate cancer risk in Black men before Charlamagne adds that “health equity is a critical issue for our community.” Cedric continues, “When we reduce barriers to healthcare in Black and Brown communities, everyone benefits.” Tucker sums up the campaign, saying “knowledge is power, know your risks.”
Featured on the PCF website, the “Know Your Risk” page features different actions people can take to lower their cancer risk, better understand their cancer risk, and how to cope with a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Raising Funds for Prostate Cancer Research
For the month of February, the Hawks Foundation pledged to donate $250 to the PCF for every assist registered by the Hawks. This year the foundation presented the PCF with a check of $144,000 for a total of more than $777,000 over the life of the Assist Challenge campaign, started in 2019.
Earlier this month when accepting the Hawks Foundation’s donation, PCF President and CEO Charles J. Ryan, MD said:
“We are overwhelmed by the generous support PCF has received from the Hawks and are honored to again join efforts to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research. Our continued partnership with the Hawks helps us reach so many men about the importance of understanding your risk for prostate cancer, especially Black men, who are disproportionately affected. We call that a win!”
Early Detection with HALO
Prostate cancer is a highly treatable disease when detected early. Early diagnosis allows for less-invasive, more-precise treatment sooner, and a longer, better quality of life. When diagnosed and treated early, the 5-year survival rate is 99%.
HALO Precision Diagnostics™ is a proud partner of the PCF. As a leader in early disease detection using precision diagnostics, HALO has combined the most-advanced imaging, digital pathology, molecular genomics, and predictive analytics under one roof, in a lower-cost, outpatient setting to improve the patient experience and save lives. To learn more from our prostate experts call us (760) 280-9315 or schedule a consultation.
References:
- https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/chris-tucker-urges-black-men-know-your-risks-prostate-cancer-foundation-campaign
- https://www.pcf.org/c/the-prostate-cancer-foundation-launches-black-men-know-your-risk-campaign-and-teams-up-with-atlanta-hawks-for-black-history-month-assist-challenge-to-raise-awareness-and-funds-for-prostate-ca/
- https://www.pcf.org/knowyourrisk/
- https://www.pcf.org/c/hawks-raise-144000-for-fifth-annual-black-history-month-assist-challenge-to-support-the-prostate-cancer-foundation/
