Prostate cancer risk higher in African American men, Vietnam vets

One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes. But the risk for African American men is higher—75% higher than for white men the same age.

Moreover, African American men are twice as likely to die from it.

E. Ronald Hale, MD, MPH, medical director of Radiation Oncology at Kettering Health, advises African American men to take a proactive approach to their prostate health at an earlier age than they might think.

“Starting in your early to mid-40s, engage in discussion with your family doctor,” he says. “Be diligent about having regular prostate screening tests done.”

Dr. Hale says veterans of the Vietnam War should be also aware of their elevated risk.

“Men who served in Vietnam or otherwise had any Agent Orange exposure should absolutely undergo regular testing,” Dr. Hale says. “That should also be reported to their local Veteran’s Affairs Hospital.”

The importance of PSA screenings

The goal is to catch prostate cancer early, when it’s more easily cured.

Prostate-specific antigen tests are a blood test that checks for a protein that indicates whether a prostate is enlarged or possibly has prostate cancer.

“It’s important to have a discussion with your doctor to determine the best interval and when to start screening the patient,” Dr. Hale says. For African American men, the general recommendation is to begin screenings by age 45.

You might need to be screened annually—or more often, depending on your risk factors and history. Your doctor will look for a continuous rise in PSA, not necessarily a high PSA after one test.

“I’m less concerned about a man in his 70s with a high PSA than I am with a younger man who has what looks like a normal PSA that is rising consistently,” says Dr. Hale. “It is the rise and rate of rise that indicates we may have a cancer that’s growing.”

Other ways to lower your risk

While prostate cancer has no known early warning signs, you can take steps to help reduce your overall risk.

Typical risk factors for all men include unhealthy eating and lack of exercise, which can increase the likelihood of developing prostate cancer and other potentially dangerous medical conditions.

Eating fruits and vegetables is proven to lower the risk of developing prostate cancer and other illnesses. Walking more can also help reduce the risk of many different conditions.

“If you can reduce your risk of prostate cancer as well as other diseases, that is overall sound advice that is not just limited to prostate cancer,” says Dr. Hale.

Talk to your doctor about when you should start PSA screenings. If you don’t have a provider, visit ketteringhealth.org/ find-care or call 1-844-260-8193 to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider today.