Prostate cancer disparity rally Jan. 25 in Charlotte

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Free prostate cancer screenings and education sessions are available at a Jan. 25 prostate cancer disparity rally at Little Rock AME Zion Church.

Free prostate cancer screenings are part of a Jan. 25 rally at Little Rock AME Zion Church

The Prostate Health Education Network, a nonprofit focused on eliminating prostate cancer disparity among Black men, is hosting a screening and awareness event about their prostate cancer risk at Little Rock AME Zion Church, 401 North McDowell St. The rally and screenings are from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

“Black men are more than 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than all other men and more than twice as likely to die from it,” said prostate cancer survivor and PHEN founder Thomas Farrington in a statement. “This is a crisis in Black communities that has to end. We’re bringing together church leaders, healthcare experts, policymakers, health advocates, and prostate cancer survivors to help educate Black men about prostate cancer early detection and show them why this is so critical for them.”

Prostate cancer is affects a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces seminal fluid which nourishes and transports sperm. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is one of the most common types of cancer and typically grows slowly, where it may not cause serious harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer  may need little or no treatment, others are aggressive and can spread quickly.

When detected early — and still confined to the prostate — it has the best chance for successful treatment.

The meeting includes free prostate cancer screenings through a partnership between PHEN and the Prostate Conditions Education Council. In addition, the meeting will include education on:

• Navigating treatment pathways following a prostate cancer diagnosis

• The importance of early detection screening

• Genetic testing’s importance

• Why Black men in advanced stages should consider joining clinical trials

“Prostate cancer is a crisis within Black communities, said the Rev. Derrill Blue, Little Rock AME’s senior pastor. “Knowledge about early detection screening is key to beating prostate cancer. This is personal, as my grandfather is a survivor of prostate cancer.”

In addition to Blue, other people lending their voices to the rally’s cause are U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, Dr. Manish Damani, a urologist at Urology Specialists of the Carolinas; Dr. Antonio Knox Sr., a prostate cancer survivor and grand basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; N.C. Rep. Nasif Majeed, Bishop Darryl Starnes Sr., presiding senior bishop of the AME Zion Church’s Piedmont Episcopal District and Jerry Womack, a prostate cancer survivor and PHEN Charlotte ambassador.

PHEN’s disparity rally initiative started in 2021 and has reached over 20 million people across 16 states messaging, town hall meetings, and community activities.

On the Net:

prostatehealthed.org

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