First study comparing rates between black and white men in the UK

This new evidence comes from the first population based study to compare rates of prostate cancer between black and white men living in the UK.

The study, published last month suggests the difference could not be fully explained by how long men delayed before seeing their doctor.  This research also shows that that differences in access to diagnostic services and information that these two groups of men get about this condition cannot account  for the higher levels of prostate cancer among black men.

The American prostate cancer support group Malecare advises that all men as soon as they reach adulthood should discuss prostate cancer and the latest prostate cancer screening tests with their doctors annually.

US Prostate Cancer is a leading killer of Black Men. Despite this, African Americans, and Black Men worldwide, have been underrepresented in important medical research to find treatments and as patients to help save their lives.

Collaborator for this project, and lecturer in medical statistics, Dr Chris Metcalf stated that this is the first evidence from England on the rates of prostate cancers between black and white men.

‘There are very few known risk factors for prostate cancer but as we exclude a role for social factors, such as access to diagnostic services, it looks more likely that the higher rate in Black men is due to a biological susceptibility to developing the disease,' Metcalf said.

Bioglogical suseptiblity

With evidence pointing to  a greater biological susceptibility to the disease,  researchers are now doing further work to see if there are differences in disease progression and survival following diagnosis between the two groups.

 Health experts within the community have expressed concern at the findings published in British Journal of Cancer last month.

Findings also shows that black men are diagnosed with this condition on average five years younger than their white counterparts.

‘This research is very important in helping to shape our understanding of black men's experience of prostate cancer and their access to, and uptake of, health services', Anna Jewell, Head of Policy and Campaigns at The Prostate Cancer Charity said.
While experts are keen not to cause alarm there is a consensus of the need to  make communities more aware of this condition. Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK, with 35,000 men are diagnosed with the condition every year. Research indicates that African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men.

‘The study is significant in that it excludes diagnostic factors for this increased incidence. Black men have a comparable knowledge of prostate cancer, experience of symptoms and are no more likely to delay visiting their GP than white men. This gives greater weight to the theory that a genetic difference between black men and their white counterparts could explain the increased incidence,' Anna Jewell, Head of Policy and Campaigns at The Prostate Cancer Charity said.

 "The study provides very helpful information about why both groups may delay seeking medical attention but, in particular, highlights that in black men this is more likely to be because they find the symptoms embarrassing or are scared it might be something serious. This provides very useful information for our future awareness raising work with men.' Jewell added.

Seeking help

Health experts indicate that while it is helpful to know that black men are not more likely to delay in presenting with possible symptoms this overall research shows that a substantial number of men from both ethnic groups delayed in seeking medical attention.

Responding to this new research the Prostate Cancer Care Charity said that they would encourage all men to visit their GP if they are experiencing any possible symptoms of prostate cancer such as problems with urinating.

Whilst the findings from this study are helpful in furthering our understanding of prostate cancer in black men, we would like to see further research investigating whether there are any differences in access to treatment or care for prostate cancer between black and white men to help us understand how we can meet the needs of those most at risk from the disease."

The Prostate Cancer Charity has a confidential freephone helpline, on 0800 074 8383, staffed by specialist nurses.