Alpha Phi Phi Alpha Fraternity Health Chairs & Community Defenders of the community are autonomous

As part of the 98th General Convention and the 119th anniversary Convention of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Black Health Matters, Astellas and Zero Prostate Cancer organized a powerful event to educate the organization’s health chairs and community defenders on prostate cancer, prevention by diagnosis and treatment of the organization.

Dr. Langston D. Smith, DMD, MS, Mhed (above), the assistant dental health surgeon, offered opening and fence remarks for the evening.

Early detection of prostate cancer can save your life

The director of the prostate cancer mission, Brian Bragg, gave an overview of prostate cancer and its impact on black men.

• Black men are 1.7x more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Because they are often diagnosed later, black men are 2.1 times more likely to die of prostate cancer than white men.

When should you be detected?

Bragg told participants that their screening needs would mainly depend on their family and / health history. He encouraged the brothers to take care of their health by visiting this link to assess their risks. Then discuss their concerns with their primary care doctor at the moment when initial APS screening is appropriate. For those who have family history, screening can start at 40 years.

Associate yourself with your HCP for more positive results

Michael Daniels, MD, a certified urological surgeon who directs German Urology in Germantown, in Pennsylvania, provided an encouraging opening speech. He told the Alpha brothers that they needed to use their voices when they appoints the doctor. They had to work in partnership with their HCP when it comes to making treatment decisions and exploring experimental treatments (for example, combined intensification / therapy). These options may not always be offered, but the management and continuation of treatments that give black men the best results can help.

Why are the prostate cancer screenings

Dr. Daniels also gave a rapid prostate overview, declaring that symptoms of prostate cancer are rarely felt before cancer is advanced, supporting prevention and annual screenings.

Prevent prostate cancer with healthier lifestyle choices

Dr. Daniels is a defender of plants based on plants or heavy of plants, while avoiding processed foods, sugar and alcohol. He reminded the public that smoking is a contributory cause or cause for most cancers.

In addition to mentioning treatment options and recent progress (this is not your father’s prostate cancer), Dr. Daniels stressed the importance of listening to your doctor.

Resources for education and empowerment

Astellas Oncology has contributed printed documents to help participants better understand their health:

• “Understand the increase in PSA after surgery and / or radiation”
• “Know your prostate plan”
• These brochures, filled with accessible and usable information, helped strengthen the main messages of the event.

Post-dinner discussions

Discussions on post-dinner tables have been designed to explore the role that alpha phi alpha chapters can have more awareness of prostate cancer and at risk for black men. Some have discussed the ideas offered, in particular the organizing or partnership chapters for monthly health discussions in terms of chapter, with a mention of “medical sorting” to discuss health related issues.

They also discussed means of increasing access to free APS projections. There was also a suggestion that chapters obtained information on health fairs and screening opportunities in the community and share this information with their brothers.

Doing your research and having an action plan has been encouraged by some brothers. Personal stories have been shared, including some concerning the change of doctors when a doctor does not express adequate concern by raising PSA numbers.

When you have family history of prostate cancer, you can do things differently.

The idea of monitoring and waiting is not appropriate for young men or those who have family history of prostate cancer, according to the advice of certain brothers whose families were affected and successfully treated with prostate cancer. One specifically mentioned his 92 -year -old father, and he and his father are doing well and are without cancer treatment.

Conclusion

Health equity begins with conversations. This dinner and this discussion went beyond the awareness – it turned on a fire. By bringing together voices of experts, resources and lived experiences of black men, the event stressed that prostate cancer does not need to be a silent killer. When black men are equipped with knowledge, authorized to speak and supported by their communities, the results improve – and lives are saved.