Mr. Thomas Farrington provides opening remarks for fourth and final session of the Annual African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Rally. This session focused on strategies and developments to support prostate cancer survivors facing survivorship issues, including sexual health, incontinence, bone health, and mental health. The session also recognized PHEN heroes; those members of the PHEN Survivor Network who have passed but were active in efforts to outreach and support others facing prostate cancer.
Key Takeaways:
- US and Caribbean Black men have the highest prostate cancer incidence (new cases) globally, 73% higher among US non-Hispanic Black African American men.
- Suicidal rates for prostate cancer patients are higher than the general population (~9.9% experience suicidal thoughts).
- Black men are unlikely to seek mental health services due to factors such as masculinity, self-esteem, and stigma.
- There’s a three-to-five-year gap between the development of erectile dysfunction and a 7X increase in cardiovascular disease.
- The most common cause of incontinence in a man for leakage is radical prostatectomy. While rates are estimated to be the same between prostatectomy and radiation, radiation treatment takes about two years to show up.
- Men can develop osteoporosis, especially after the diagnosis of prostate cancer and receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) treatment.
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