OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — This month is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. It’s common, impacting about a quarter of a million people each year, and those in the medical field notice there are racial disparities when it comes to a diagnosis and outcomes.
Experts have not pinpointed all the reasons behind this difference. They believe there could be a genetic component but also social differences like access to health care and support that more greatly affects African American men.
Dr. Michael Baine is a radiation oncologist with Nebraska Medicine. He says studies suggest some African American men may not being getting needed follow-up care.
“Ultimately what we're seeing is these gentlemen then end up not being caught as they're transitioning into cancer,” he says. “We need to do something about it and instead they're presenting several years down the road when the cancer is much more advanced and much more difficult to cure.”
Baine recommends patients understand their path for care moving forward and if they aren’t receiving it, they should be their own advocate and seek second opinions.
You can find more information about prostate health and cancer at the following links:
