[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-men-and-prostate-cancer\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-men-and-prostate-cancer\/","headline":"Black Men and Prostate Cancer: 2 RCCA Oncologists Discuss \u2018the Number You Need to Know\u2028","name":"Black Men and Prostate Cancer: 2 RCCA Oncologists Discuss \u2018the Number You Need to Know\u2028","description":"Black Men and Prostate Cancer: 2 RCCA Oncologists Discuss \u2018the Number You Need to Know\u2028 May 28, 2026 Glen Gejerman, MD, says that when it comes to risk for developing prostate cancer and for having poor outcomes with the disease, Black men face several significant disadvantages relative to men from other racial and ethnic backgrounds.The […]","datePublished":"2026-05-28","dateModified":"2026-05-29","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/author\/ceastway\/#Person","name":"ceastway","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/author\/ceastway\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/007b7979610c70c3cd4b24ed960fb78ff62c0b68401d393e79cb483d56812050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/007b7979610c70c3cd4b24ed960fb78ff62c0b68401d393e79cb483d56812050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo.svg","width":506,"height":228}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1183657313.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1183657313.jpg","height":1414,"width":2121},"url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-men-and-prostate-cancer\/","about":["All Cancers"],"wordCount":1637,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBlack Men and Prostate Cancer: 2 RCCA Oncologists Discuss \u2018the Number You Need to Know\u2028\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMay 28, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGlen Gejerman, MD, says that when it comes to risk for developing prostate cancer and for having poor outcomes with the disease, Black men face several significant disadvantages relative to men from other racial and ethnic backgrounds.The board-certified radiation oncologist explains that Black men are:more likely to develop prostate cancer, facing a 1-in-6 lifetime risk as compared to a 1-in-8 risk for men overall;1 diagnosed at a median age of 65 years, two to four years earlier than the median age of diagnosis for other men;1more likely than other men to have cancer that has spread beyond the prostate prior to diagnosis;2roughly twice as likely as other men to die from the disease.1 \u201cThose numbers are discouraging, but there also is one very important number that can facilitate detection of prostate cancer in its earliest stages, giving patients the best chance for successful outcomes,\u201d says Dr. Gejerman, a genitourinary cancer specialist at the John Theurer Cancer Center of Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ.The physician, who practices with Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation\u2019s largest networks of oncology specialists, continues, \u201cI\u2019m referring to a patient\u2019s prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, number, which can be measured from a small sample of blood obtained during a simple blood draw. A large proportion of cases of prostate cancer are identified by investigating an elevated PSA value in a man not experiencing any symptoms. This is one reason why it is so important for men to have regular physical examinations and for those exams to include PSA screening starting at the age appropriate for a man\u2019s degree of risk for prostate cancer.\u201dDr. Gejerman adds, \u201cWhile I want to emphasize the potentially life-saving value of PSA screening, I also want to note that an elevated PSA does not \u2013 in itself \u2013 confirm the presence of prostate cancer. Several factors, including infection, recent sexual activity, or an enlarged prostate, can cause PSA to rise. So having an elevated prostate-specific antigen value is not cause to panic, but it is cause for further investigation. When warranted based on a man\u2019s history, physical examination, and other assessments, a urologist may perform a prostate biopsy, which is key to making a definitive diagnosis of prostate cancer.\u201dThe Importance of Starting Prostate Cancer Screening EarlyBecause Black men have an elevated risk for prostate cancer and a younger median age of diagnosis compared to others, several medical organizations recommend that they begin PSA screening earlier than men of other racial and ethnic backgrounds.Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, DO, explains, \u201cThe American Cancer Society recommends that men at average risk for prostate cancer begin screening at age 50. However, the society says that men who are at high risk should start screening at age 45. The organization includes African Americans and men whose father or brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 in this high-risk group. Further, if men are at even higher risk due to having two or more risk factors, such as being African American and having a first-degree relative diagnosed at an early age, the American Cancer Society recommends starting screening at age 40.\u201d3  The board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist adds that the American Urological Association recommends that clinicians offer prostate cancer screening starting at age 40 to 45 years for men at increased risk due to factors including African ancestry, germline mutations, and a strong family history of the disease.4 He continues that the National Comprehensive Cancer Network\u00ae (NCCN) recommends obtaining a baseline PSA level at age 40 in Black men, people with genetic mutations that increase risk for the disease, and those with a concerning family or personal history, as opposed to starting screening at age 45 in other men.5Dr. Ahluwalia, who practices at RCCA\u2019s Howell, NJ, and Tom\u2019s River, NJ, offices, notes that one of the key goals of PSA screening is to detect prostate cancer before it has spread. \u201cThe 5-year relative survival rate for localized or regional prostate cancer is more than 99%, but that rate drops to 38% for distant cancer.6 While we want to detect prostate cancer as early as possible in all patients, prompt identification is particularly important in Black men given their younger median age at diagnosis and the fact that they are more likely than other men to already have metastases when diagnosed. The hope is that starting screening at a younger age will enable us to find and treat more cases while the disease is still contained to the prostate.\u201d\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cI strongly urge Black men in their 40s to talk with their primary care provider about having PSA screening.\u201d\u2028-  Glen Gejerman, MD\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cAs a society, we are making slow but steady progress in addressing disparities in cancer care and outcomes. While we have further to go, prostate cancer is one area where there is real potential for meaningful change, but it all begins with diagnosis.\u201d -  Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, DO\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdvances in Treating Prostate CancerDr. Gejerman adds, \u201cThe last 10 years have seen dramatic advances in our ability to treat prostate cancer with radiotherapy, surgery, and medical therapies. At RCCA, we are committed to making the full range of therapies, as well as clinical trials, available to all patients, so that every person facing cancer has the best opportunity to achieve the best outcome. While therapeutic breakthroughs have transformed the management of advanced disease as well as of localized prostate cancer, early identification and treatment is always preferable, so I strongly urge Black men in their 40s to talk with their primary care provider about having PSA screening.\u201dDr. Ahluwalia notes, \u201cAs a society, we are making slow but steady progress in addressing disparities in cancer care and outcomes. While we have further to go, prostate cancer is one area where there is real potential for meaningful change. Studies have shown that when Black men have access to the latest therapies, their outcomes \u2013 including survival rates \u2013 are comparable to those of men in other racial and ethnic groups.7-9 There is so much we can offer patients today in terms of both treatment and hope, but it all begins with diagnosis, so my message\u00a0 \u2013 to Black men and to all men \u2013 is to please begin PSA screening at the age appropriate for your degree of risk and continue to have regular follow-up screenings.\u201dFind Expert Prostate Cancer Care Near You in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., AreaDr. Gejerman and Dr. Ahluwalia are among 90+ medical oncologists and hematologists who practice with Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation\u2019s largest networks of oncology specialists. RCCA has more than 20 locations near you across New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., area. RCCA\u2019s cancer specialists see more than 30,000 new patients each year and provide care to more than 265,000 established patients, collaborating closely with those patients\u2019 other physicians. RCCA physicians offer patients innovative therapies, including immunotherapies and targeted therapy, as well as access to approximately 300\u00a0clinical trials. In addition to serving patients who have solid tumors, blood-based cancers, and benign blood disorders, RCCA care centers also provide\u00a0infusion services to people with a number of non-oncologic conditions\u2014including\u00a0multiple sclerosis,\u00a0Crohn\u2019s disease,\u00a0asthma, iron-deficiency anemia, and\u00a0rheumatoid arthritis\u2014who take intravenously-administered medications.To learn more about RCCA, call 844-346-7222 or contact RCCA. \u00a0ReferencesKratzer TB, Mazzitelli N, Star J, et al. Prostate cancer statistics, 2025. CA Cancer J Clin. 2025;75(6):485-497.Tsodikov A, Gulati R, de Carvalho TM, et al. Is prostate cancer different in black men? Answers from 3 natural history models. Cancer. 2017;123(12):2312-2319.American Cancer Society Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Early Detection. November 23, 2023. Available at https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/prostate-cancer\/detection-diagnosis-staging\/acs-recommendations.html. Accessed April 27, 2026.Wei JT, Barocas D, Carlsson S, et al. Early Detection of Prostate Cancer: AUA\/SUO Guideline Part I: Prostate Cancer Screening. J Urol. 2023;210(1):45-53.National Comprehensive Cancer Network\u00ae. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines\u00ae). Prostate Cancer Early Detection. Version 2.2026. February 18, 2026.American Cancer Society. Survival rates for prostate cancer. January 13, 2026. Available at https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/prostate-cancer\/detection-diagnosis-staging\/survival-rates.html. Accessed April 27, 2026.Dess RT, Hartman HE, Mahal BA, et al. Association of Black race with prostate cancer-specific and other-cause mortality. JAMA Oncol.\u00a02019 Jul 1;5(7):975-983.Rasmussen KM, Patil V, Li C, et al. Survival outcomes by race and ethnicity in veterans with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(11):e2337272.George DJ, Ramaswamy K, Huang A, et al. Survival by race in men with chemotherapy-na\u00efve enzalutamide- or abiraterone-treated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2022;25:524-530.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twe are here for you\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFor more information or to schedule an appointment, call 844-346-7222. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the\u00a0RCCA location\u00a0nearest you.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trequest an appointment\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRELATED ARTICLES\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDeciding Where to Receive Cancer Care: RCCA Oncologists Outline Key 5 Considerations\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cMy uncle\u2019s neighbor was diagnosed with the exact same cancer, I think, last year and his specialist has been wonderful. I\u2019m going to get you\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen You Diagnose (or Suspect) Cancer: 3 Reasons to Refer Your Patients to RCCA\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cWhat happens next?\u201d \u201cWhere should I go for treatment?\u201d They are questions physicians often hear after informing a patient that they have identified confirmed or\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Blood Work\u2019 and Cancer Detection: 2 RCCA Oncologists Explain What Doctors Look for in Your CBC\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cYou\u2019re going to feel a little pinch.\u201d Each year, tens of millions of Americans hear that phrase, or words to the same effect, just before\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRegional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Black Men and Prostate Cancer: 2 RCCA Oncologists Discuss \u2018the Number You Need to Know\u2028","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-men-and-prostate-cancer\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]