Today marks the final day of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. September carries weight for me personally—I’ve lost family members to this disease—so forgive me for stating something that should be obvious but still needs saying: Black men need to go to the doctor.
The hard truth is many of us aren’t going. One in six Black men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis, and we die from it at more than twice the rate of white men. Most of us know someone affected. Some of us know someone who didn’t survive it. Yet Prostate Cancer Awareness Month often passes with our community still largely disconnected from basic preventive care.
Here’s the problem: 40% of Black men don’t have a regular primary care physician. No standing relationship with a doctor. No one checking in. No baseline for what normal looks like.
Why the disconnect? It’s complicated. Research shows Black men face real barriers: lack of insurance, trouble scheduling appointments, transportation challenges, and experiences with healthcare that feel dismissive or disrespectful. Many report that doctors don’t actually listen to them or take their concerns seriously.
But here’s what matters: a doctor isn’t just someone you see when something hurts. Regular checkups let providers catch small problems before they become ones you can feel. This is especially critical with prostate cancer because early stages often have no symptoms at all. You could feel completely fine and still have it.
Screening catches what you can’t. The main screening test is a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, which measures a protein the prostate produces. A high PSA doesn’t automatically mean cancer—age, race, family history, and other factors all matter. That’s why a conversation with your doctor is essential.
When prostate cancer does develop, the warning signs can sound like regular aging. Needing to pee more at night. A weaker stream. Burning when you urinate. Then there are things men might hesitate to mention: blood in semen, pain during ejaculation, or erectile difficulties. None of this necessarily means cancer, but they’re all worth getting checked.
So you need a doctor. Finding one is straightforward. If possible, seek out a Black physician—you should feel comfortable discussing your health, your family history, and the changes happening with your body without reservation. Start with your insurance company’s website or a local community health center. Look for a primary care doctor who’s accepting new patients.
When you find someone, ask: When should I start prostate cancer screenings? Should I get a PSA test? What do my results actually mean? You don’t need to be an expert. You just need someone you trust enough to ask.
Consider Stokely Carmichael. He was one of the defining voices of the Black Power movement, a symbol of Black resistance and masculinity for millions. In 1996, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Two years later, he was dead at 57. His family gathered for the repass, and the community lost an irreplaceable figure.
I serve on the Advisory Board for the Center for Black Health and Equity. I can tell you with absolute certainty: prostate cancer is killing us. Black men, it’s time to treat your health with the urgency it deserves. If you don’t have a doctor—and I know at least one person reading this doesn’t—get one now. Not eventually. Now. That single decision could save your life.
★TR★
