Black Patients Matter – Cancer ABCs' Perspective and Commitment

In the world of cancer, including prostate cancer, black and African American men are at a higher risk for prostate cancer, having more aggressive cancer, being diagnosed with later stages of prostate cancer and for dying from prostate cancer than Caucasian men or any other race in the world for that matter1.  Yet, the available research and data to understand and treat them is lacking, and sometimes absent.  

The number of black men in clinical trials for prostate cancer is usually less than 10%, and often less then 5%.  There have been numerous attempts to change this and create solutions to this problem.  Currently, our clinical trials are generating data that comes mostly from Caucasian subjects, so we should actually describe our data as Caucasian data.   

The new awareness of systemic and systematic racism in America creates another opportunity to create solutions.  Cancer ABCs is committed to being part of that solution. 

Two resources that black men and their families may want to connect with for prostate cancer information and support are:  PHEN (Prostate Health Education Network), founded by Tom Farrington and Hampton Roads Prostate Health Forum, founded by Charlie Hill.

Cancer ABCs would also like to acknowledge the work that the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trial Consortium (PCCTC), under the leadership of Mr. Jake Vinson, has begun to do to explore and develop new, innovation ways to increase black and African American participation in clinical trials, both as participants and as researchers.

1.       PCF – Prostate Cancer and African Ancestry https://www.pcf.org/c/prostate-cancer-and-african-ancestry/