Prostate Cancer in Black Men

Medically Reviewed by Nazia Q Bandukwala, DO on June 13, 2023
Written by Annie Stuart
4 min read

Since the 1990s, prostate cancer death rates have dropped for all men -- most of all for Black men. That's progress,  but it’s not the full picture.

Black men have a greater risk of getting prostate cancer -- and a more aggressive type -- than White men, says Brandon A. Mahal, MD, a radiation oncologist with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It takes a grim toll: Black men are more than twice as likely to die from the disease.

What's behind numbers like these? And what needs to change? Many things come into play, including access to care, genetics, environment, and lifestyle.

“We now have a lot of data about prostate cancer outcomes in Black men,” says Kosj Yamoah, MD, PhD, a radiation oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center. “And this may help us provide better treatment.”

Still, research in Black men is lacking. In some cases, researchers haven’t even reported the race or ethnicity of men in their prostate cancer studies. When they have, fewer than 5% of those who’ve taken part are Black.

This is partly due to low participation to what’s required to enroll in a trial, such as lab test results. “Normal lab results” are often based on a group that’s not diverse, Mahal says. But what’s “normal” can differ across race, gender, and age. And when studies are done mostly in White people, it’s hard to tell if the results apply to others.

Black men don’t just get prostate cancer more often than White men. They also tend to get it at an earlier age. And their cancer tends to spread more quickly. “A prostate cancer that starts at age 40 and spreads by age 50 is unlike one that shows up first at age 70, one you never have to worry about,” Yamoah says.

Genetics also comes into play with prostate cancer, more so than for any other type of cancer. 

“Part of the difference in prostate cancer rates -- and, therefore, deaths -- may be due to these inherited factors,” says Lorelei Mucci, ScD, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Early detection is important for everyone with prostate cancer. But Mucci says Black men face unique barriers when it comes to diagnosis.

One hurdle is for those who don't have  access to insurance and medical care, Yamoah says. Another is the fact that Black men's prostate tumors tend to start sooner and spread faster. Even when their cancer is the slow-growing (low-grade) type, Black men have twice the risk of death as that of men of other races, although it's still small.

Screening can save more Black lives than it can for those at lower risk. When prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening tests began in the 1990s, death rates fell the most for Black men. Early and frequent screening is key because of the strong link between midlife PSA levels and the risk for Black men of getting aggressive prostate cancer.

These are the American Cancer Society guidelines for higher-risk groups:

  • Start PSA at age 45 for Black men and men who have a father or brother who had prostate cancer when they were younger than age 65.
  • Start PSA at age 40 for men with more than one close relative who had prostate cancer when they were younger than age 65.

For White men whose PSA levels are above normal, doctors usually choose active surveillance, or “watchful waiting.” With repeat PSA tests, rectal exams, and biopsies, they can check for signs that the cancer is growing. This approach isn’t used as much with Black men because the risks are much higher.

That may be changing. MRI-guided biopsies and genomic testscan now help rule out a cancer that is spreading more quickly. Taking more tissue samples with a saturation biopsy is another option. This type of biopsy takes 20 or more tissue samples in one test, compared to the usual 12 -14.

For Black men, the biopsy technique is crucialTheir prostate cancer tumors tend to sit in the front part of the prostate, says Mahal. “This zone tends to harbor more aggressive cancers, but standard biopsy techniques often miss them.”

“If these newer tests point to a low-risk cancer, I think it’s safe to then use active surveillance,” Mahal says. Studies that follow patients who take this approach will help doctors have a better idea.

“We know that Black men have delayed diagnoses -- and, therefore, treatment,” Mucci says. “They also tend to get different types of treatment, and their access to care is different."

Yamoah cautions that “We’re not asking doctors to treat Black men with prostate cancer differently … we need to treat [people] based on their biology.”

We still don’t know whether certain prostate cancer treatments work as well for Black men, Mucci says. But Mahal points out that “In radiation trials where patients had the same disease status and equal access to care, Black men actually had a better prostate cancer survival rate than others.” He adds that their overall death rates were higher, but that this may have been due to having more than one illness.

Lifestyle changes can help lower your risk. Exercise, maintain a healthy weight, cut down on red meat and alcohol, and quit smoking. If you’re a Black man, do these things too:

  • Push for early, frequent prostate cancer screening tests.
  • Ask your doctor about tests that may better spot prostate cancer in Black men.
  • Find out which tests and treatment your insurance covers.
  • Learn about your treatment options. Partner with your doctor to get the best results.
  • Enroll in a prostate clinical trial.