AUSTIN, Texas – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin publicly acknowledged his failure to disclose his prostate cancer diagnosis sooner, expressing regret over the impact it had on himself and the broader community, particularly within the Black population.
During a news briefing on Thursday, Austin described the revelation as a “gut punch,” as the diagnosis had been made public about a week after he was hospitalized due to complications from cancer surgery, catching even the White House off guard.
The announcement has reignited conversations about prostate cancer in the Black community, prompting questions about its prevalence, the appropriate timing for screening, early symptoms, and when to disclose such news to loved ones.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all men are at risk for prostate cancer, making it the second most common cancer among men in the U.S. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 300,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2024, resulting in just over 35,000 deaths.
Dr. Abhinav Khanna of the Mayo Clinic emphasized that while the prevalence of prostate cancer in Black men remains uncertain, it tends to be more aggressive in this demographic, with Black men being twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men in the U.S.
Furthermore, Dr. Ravi Munver of Hackensack University Medical Center pointed out that disparities in screening and treatment access contribute to more advanced cancer diagnoses and worse outcomes for Black men. A 2022 study published in the journal Cancer supported this, revealing that Black men with prostate cancer are less likely to be screened or receive treatment, leading to worse outcomes.
In terms of risk factors, ethnicity plays a significant role, as men of West African descent are more susceptible to prostate cancer, while a family history of the disease can also increase the risk.
Regarding symptoms, experts noted that the vast majority of men with prostate cancer may not exhibit any signs until the disease has progressed significantly. As a result, early screening is crucial, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men between the ages of 55 and 69 consider getting a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
At-risk Black men are advised to start screening between ages 40 and 45, according to recommendations from the American Urological Association. Early detection is crucial, as prostate cancer is highly treatable if caught early.
Experts also shed light on the stigma and personal nature of prostate cancer, which often leads men to delay sharing their diagnoses or seeking treatment. This stigma, coupled with a lack of routine healthcare visits for men, can further hinder early detection and treatment for the disease.
The public disclosure of Secretary Austin’s prostate cancer diagnosis has opened up important conversations about the disease’s impact on the Black community and the need for more proactive screening and treatment measures to address disparities in outcomes among different ethnic groups.