Why I’m hosting an event about prostate cancer with James Cleverly and Josh Babarinde
Prostate cancer awareness ribbon | Image by: AdobeStock
3 min read
Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to other ethnicities
Prostate cancer is one of the most pressing health challenges facing men in the UK. It takes the lives of more than 12,000 each and every year, and it can be a heart-rending way to die. The presence of prostate cancer can go undetected for years. The agonising truth is that too many men don’t find out in time. When caught early, it is nearly always survivable. Yet when caught late, there is a high chance of the cancer becoming terminal once it has spread throughout the body and advanced to the bones.
I have had close relatives pass away from gynaecological disease, and I have had close relatives face the paralysis of a prostate cancer diagnosis. I am all too aware that these conditions can shatter lives and tear families apart, but this is an issue close to my heart not just because of my own family.
As a Black man, I know that I am at higher risk. Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to other ethnicities, while men in deprived areas also face significantly higher mortality rates.
When caught early, it is nearly always survivable
The barriers to adequate healthcare affecting our communities have been difficult to overcome. A lack of awareness alongside a lack of infrastructure means cancer screenings remain few and far between. A sense of masculine pride can restrict visits to the GP, and among men of Afro-Caribbean heritage there is sometimes a slight suspicion of public institutions.
Sir Chris Hoy’s recent announcement that he has a few years to live is a poignant reminder that these barriers affect us all, and that prostate cancer doesn’t care who you are or where you come from. Both his father and his grandfather had the disease, putting Chris in exactly the type of high-risk group that should be prompted to seek testing. It is yet another tragedy that could have been avoided.
For all of these reasons, I am proud to be co-sponsoring a cross-party event in Parliament with James Cleverly and Josh Babarinde on behalf of Prostate Cancer Research (PCR). Uniting a broad coalition of parliamentarians, healthcare professionals, industry leaders and the prostate cancer community, we now have the chance to come together with the aims of reducing health inequalities and drastically increasing survival rates.
On the day, PCR will be launching a landmark report that assesses the economic and health benefits of implementing a targeted screening programme for those most at risk. They will also be showcasing the potential of integrating artificial intelligence to help tackle prostate cancer more efficiently and reduce the economic burden of managing late-stage disease.
For me this issue is personal, but it should be an issue for us all. With around 50,000 new cases each year, the gravity of the situation couldn’t be greater. Earlier diagnoses could ensure men receive the care they need before it’s too late.
David Lammy is Labour MP for Tottenham and Foreign Secretary
MPs are invited to join Prostate Cancer Research’s reception on Thursday 14 November from 1pm to 3pm at the Terrace Pavilion
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