The Prostate Cancer Disparity Rally 4-year Progress and Accomplishments and Future Directions

Moderator Rev. Adrian Backus provided a slideshow about the progress behind PHEN’s Prostate Cancer Disparity Rally at the 20^th annual summit’s second session, explaining the rally is conducted via local community leaders recording prostate cancer awareness messages and PHEN broadcasting these messages via radio stations and social media channels. Over the last four years, these messages have reached more than 20 million people. The rally often culminates with a Town Hall meeting. After the slideshow, a panel discussion with seven panelists followed, including:

1. Darrell Armstrong, Senior Pastor at the Shiloh Baptist Church
2. Angelina Brown, a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ Can-Cer-Vive Ministries
3. Adrian Council, CEO and Publisher of The Positive Community magazine
4. Jerry Knight, PHEN Ambassador from Jackson, MS
5. Eric Wallen, Professor at the UNC Department of Urology at the University of North Carolina
6. Floyd Willis, Family Physician from the Mayo Clinic
7. Catherine Young, Director of the Mississippi State Department of Health Comprehensive Cancer Control Office

Ms. Young explained how PHEN has pushed forward initiatives in Mississippi to tackle the prostate cancer epidemic in Black communities, as Black males are not getting screened at adequate levels. She outlined how providers need more education to improve their cultural understanding and how barbershops in her local communities have stepped up in promoting early detection screening and prostate cancer awareness.

“Our purpose is to raise awareness,” said Mr. Jerry Knight, explaining how he conducts support group meetings at his church for prostate cancer survivors and invites medical professionals to present as well.

Dr. Wallen has participated at an event in Raleigh, North Carolina to promote men’s health awareness with the help of PHEN. He explained that the key elements to spread prostate cancer awareness at community events is the ability to push forward education and passion for the topic. Providing resources – both online and in print – is also essential for educating men.

Mr. Council described how his magazine has taken prostate cancer awareness seriously and promoted the topic at the New England Missionary Baptist Convention and at local hospitals including Mt. Sinai in New York City. Rev. Armstrong explained how his church pushes forward cancer awareness programs in September, October, and January.

Ms. Brown described the symposium that PHEN held with the help of Rev. Moss at the Trinity United Church, where Black men spoke about how they are considered “second-class citizens” in terms of prostate cancer care. She further explained how her church leaders are planning to partner with PHEN in 2025 to continue endeavors to spread prostate cancer awareness. Lastly, Dr. Willis described how distrust is the root of many healthcare problems in the African American community, especially the prostate cancer crisis among Black men. As such, he emphasized the importance of building “bridges of trust.”