Did you know that one in six Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer compared to White men? Shocking right? Prostate cancer is the SECOND most common cancer among men worldwide. What makes it particularly alarming in the Black community is not just its prevalence, but the fact that Black men are often diagnosed at later stages in their life.
This is a complex issue with multiple factors at play, from genetic predispositions to socio-economic disparities in access to healthcare. I want you to think about someone in your family, a friend, co-worker, or neighbor that has been diagnosed with any type of cancer. I’m sure most of them didn’t know about early detection and prevention or they had symptoms and chose to ignore it. I know one thing’s for sure: we can’t afford to ignore it any longer. As a health and wellness blogger, I’m constantly seeking ways to raise awareness about health disparities within our community. By shedding light on this issue and empowering our community with knowledge and resources, we can work towards early detection, better treatment options, and ultimately improved outcomes.
NFL Crucial Catch Live
I had the opportunity to attend a truly impactful event called NFL Crucial Catch Live presented by Sleep Number. The panel featured current and former NFL players Brandon Bolden (Las Vegas Raiders), Will Gholston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Rashad Jennings ( NFL Legend), Mike Haynes (NFL Legend & HOF), ESPN commentator Brian Custer, and a ACS Medical Expert Dr. Robert Winn. This group of influential Black Men came together to discuss something far more crucial: Prostate Cancer. As they spoke passionately about the importance of early screening, I couldn’t help but listen with intention.
One key takeaway that resonated with me was the notion that prostate cancer is often a SILENT KILLER just lurking in the shadows until it’s too late. It hit me hard to learn that most men find out they have prostate cancer when it’s too far advanced. Just this year, the son of Martin Luther King Jr. lost his life to prostate cancer. This drastically reduces their chances of successful treatment. Another eye-opening revelation from the panel was the fact that many men avoid going to the doctor altogether. Some reasons are either out of fear of receiving bad news or simply due to a lack of awareness about the importance of regular check-ups.
Prioritize Your Health
Here’s the thing: getting checked and screened for any cancer and other health-related illnesses is absolutely crucial. ( I see what they did there with the name of the event) Our health is our greatest asset, and we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to prioritize it. Rashad Jennings used a great analogy. He said we put batteries in our remote to get it to work so we can change the channel or turn up the volume. This is a device that we use every day and as time goes on, the power in the battery starts to lose some juice. We don’t know the battery is getting low until we’re banging the remote trying to get it to work. Some of us are like that with our health. We don’t go get check ups until something is wrong and sometimes it’s too late.
Check your health battery
Yes, I get it, life gets busy, and it’s easy to put off that yearly doctor’s appointment. But trust me, a little discomfort or inconvenience now is nothing compared to the potential consequences of neglecting your health. Another factor that plays a big part in our overall well- being is stress. This is something we need to address head-on. Whether it’s through meditation, exercise, or simply taking time for yourself, finding ways to manage stress can have a profound impact on our health.
Here’s my encouraging message to you: check in on your health, both physically and mentally. Make it a priority. A healthy lifestyle can significantly lower your risk of developing various illnesses, including prostate cancer. But ultimately, it’s those regular screenings and yearly check-ups, that can truly save your life. Commit to taking charge of your health, starting today. Be the voice for someone else, hold your loved ones accountable, and check on your health battery often. The greatest victory we can achieve is a long and healthy life. Click the button below to visit the American Cancer Society website to learn more about Prostate Cancer screenings.
Your writing has a way of making even the most complex topics accessible and engaging. I’m constantly impressed by your ability to distill complicated concepts into easy-to-understand language.