Quarter of Black Men Unable to Get Prostate Cancer Test

A new survey suggests almost a quarter of Black men in the United Kingdom have not been able to get a prostate cancer test from their general practitioner (GP) despite having double the risk of developing the disease compared with the overall male population. 
More than a fifth of those who said they or a loved one could not get a test were told by the GP it was not necessary, according to a poll of 2000 Black adults by Prostate Cancer Research. One in four surveyed said they thought that discrimination prevented them or a loved one from being tested for prostate cancer. 
This is even though one in four Black men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime compared with one in eight of all men. Black men are also at risk from a younger age and are 2.5 times more likely to die from the disease compared with White men.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in the United Kingdom, with more than 52,000 new cases and 12,000 deaths every year. 
Health Professionals’ Awareness of Risk
Oliver Kemp, chief executive of Prostate Cancer Research, said in a statement, “These Black and White figures are shocking and an important call to action. It shouldn’t be the community alone who has to fix this. We are calling on government, the NHS, and other partners to come together and work with us to close this health gap.
“It is vital that we raise awareness amongst the community, but also amongst healthcare professionals and policymakers,” he added. “We are calling on GPs to be mindful of Black men’s greater risk when considering PSA testing, and on government to introduce screening for men in high risk groups. Our data show that 82% of Black men would be willing to take part in such a programme if it were rolled out. It is staggering to think of how many lives could be saved.”  
Wider Health Disparities
The Prostate Cancer Research (PCR) report polled men and women from the Black community. It found that fewer than a third of people surveyed were aware that Black men are twice as much at risk from the disease. The poll also revealed wider health inequalities. One in three respondents indicated that they believe discrimination has stopped them from being tested or treated for any medical problem. Less than half (47%) think they receive the same level of care from the NHS as their White counterparts.
In fact, discrimination in healthcare was cited as the fourth most pressing racial issue by the Black community after workplace discrimination, police brutality, and public abuse.
In 2022, PCR created the United Kingdom’s first prostate cancer-specific research programme designed purely to tackle the racial disparity in diagnosis, treatment, and care of prostate cancer. The charity has invested more than a third of its funding towards that initiative.
Dr Naomi Elster, PCR director of research and communications told Medscape News UK, “We now have more evidence as to why Black men are at higher risk, and more information about medical and social interventions which are likely to help level the playing field. We have worked with the community to co-create awareness campaigns like Real Talk, which we launched last week, and the infopool, a free healthcare information resource.”
She added, “The dial is moving, but it is not moving fast enough. We need more charities, healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and other partners to come together to work with and support the community until everyone diagnosed with prostate cancer has an equal chance.”
 
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