The Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity Consortium for Black Men (ICCARE) has issued an urgent call for a dedicated, unified front to tackle the alarmingly high and rising rates of prostate cancer among Black men globally, a demographic facing significant health disparities.
The appeal was the central focus of a one-day Prostate Cancer Summit held in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Wednesday, themed “United Against Prostate Cancer.” The event coincided with the global Men’s Health Awareness Month.
Experts at the summit highlighted that men of Black African and African-Caribbean descent face the highest risk of developing and dying from prostate cancer worldwide. In Nigeria, prostate cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men.
Dr. Ayodeji Ogunmola, a Consultant Urologist and representative of ICCARE Lokoja, stressed that a critical factor contributing to the high mortality rate is the lack of proper and early screenings.
Black men are generally advised to discuss prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing with their doctor starting from the age of 40 or 45, five years earlier than men in other ethnic groups, due to the increased genetic risk.
The summit emphasized the need to break down stigmas and create safe spaces for men to discuss their health. Dr. Taiwo Jones, the Principal Investigator of the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC), noted that the global mission of groups like ICCARE is to reduce the persistent disparities and inequalities in cancer care faced by Black men.
The call for action is directed at governments, healthcare providers, and community leaders to prioritize funding for research, expand access to free or subsidized screening programs, and ensure that treatments are accessible to prevent what advocates describe as an “epidemic of unnecessary deaths.”
