Ken Noel
Executive Director,
The Walnut Foundation
Dr. Neil Fleshner
Urologic Oncologist,
Toronto
Black men in Canada face higher prostate cancer risks — yet many delay testing. Here’s why speaking up could save lives.
For many Canadians, facing a cancer diagnosis will be one of the most challenging experiences of their lives. And dealing with cancer is hard enough on its own — without the added weight of stigma.
Few cancers carry as much stigma as prostate cancer, which is often tied to masculinity, aging, and sexual function, making it difficult for many men to open up or seek support.
It’s also the most common cancer among Canadian men, with about one in eight Canadian men getting prostate cancer in their lifetime1 and approximately one in thirty dying from it.2 And Black men are more likely to both get prostate cancer and die from it.3
Opening up the conversation, encouraging timely diagnosis, and reducing stigma are essential.
Support, community, and reducing stigma
“Some men look at their sexual life first before they look at doing something about prostate cancer,” says Filces Gomes, a retired resident of Scarborough, Ont., originally from Trinidad and Tobago and two-time prostate cancer survivor. “They might think it’ll make them less of a man. But the information is out there now — you can make a better, more calculated judgment.”
“Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer due to late diagnosis, so our goal is to improve early detection rates,” says Ken Noel, Executive Director of The Walnut Foundation, a Black men’s health and prostate cancer support group striving to enhance the health and well-being of men and their families. Over the past 14 months, The Walnut Foundation has tested 700 men at 10 pop-up clinics across the GTA. “About 20 per cent of men needed follow-up,” says Noel. “That’s the impact of bringing testing directly into Black communities.”
Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer due to late diagnosis, so our goal is to improve early detection rates.
Screening for prostate cancer early
“Prostate cancer originates in the prostate, a small reproductive gland in the pelvic area,” says Dr. Neil Fleshner, a Toronto-based urologic oncologist. “It has no symptoms early on, which is why PSA testing is so critical.”
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is the best way to detect prostate cancer early and improve patient outcomes. “The PSA test is generally recommended starting at age 50,” says Dr. Fleshner. “Men at particularly high risk, including men with a family history of prostate cancer and Black men, should start at age 40.”
Early detection is critical, but treatment also affects men’s quality of life. The impacts on men’s sexual, urinary, and bowel functioning can cause significant mental health challenges and contribute to the stigma surrounding prostate cancer detection and treatment.
Hope for the future
Besides early testing efforts, The Walnut Foundation also offers support groups for men and couples, contributes to research and clinical trials focused on Black men’s health, and invests in the next generation by supporting Black medical students pursuing careers in urology.
The future for prostate cancer patients is reassuringly bright. New treatment innovations, better testing (including PSA testing for early detection and genetic testing), and increased community support are creating hope for the future. Survival rates for metastatic prostate cancer have doubled in recent decades, and treatments are now available in pill, intravenous, and radiation forms. “We’ve made great strides in treating advanced prostate cancer,” says Dr. Fleshner. “Our scientific knowledge keeps improving, and it’s going to get better and better.”
For more information and resources on prostate cancer, speak to your health care provider or visit The Walnut Foundation at thewalnutfoundation.com.
This article was made possible by the support of Pfizer Canada.
