The Importance of Prostate Cancer Screening For Black Men
- At 71, James Pickens Jr. has found a fresh creative drive amid his recovery from prostate cancer, taking on the roles of executive producer and lead actor in the short film Albert’s Flowers, which delves into the ways individuals face and process trauma.
- SurvivorNet experts support standard screening methods such as a digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This test measures the level of PSA in the blood, and higher levels can indicate cancer.
- It’s important to note that Black men are at increased risk for prostate cancer, a disparity influenced by genetic predisposition, environmental exposures, lifestyle factors, and unequal access to healthcare.
- Check out SurvivorNet’s “Men Beating The Odds”—an inspiring series that shares the powerful stories of men overcoming prostate cancer and redefining what it means to survive—here.
- Some people battling a disease or cancer are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches and everything in between are valid.
The film, which debuted at the 2025 Montclair Film Festival, represents a milestone for the Cleveland, Ohio native, as it’s the inaugural project from his production company, Bay Springs Productions.
Read More“They come together, and in their own way, they start to kind of piece together his past and her present. And they find a commonality within that. In a way, she gives him permission to take this thing to fruition, whatever that looks like at the end.”
On Picken’s new film’s official website, he quotes Nobel Prize-winning American novelist, the late William Faulkner, saying, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”
In the film, Pickens returns to his childhood home, confronting long-buried pain while encountering the house’s current owner. “Albert’s Flowers” is an emotional story about facing the past and finding the bravery to deal with the truths we’ve ignored. The official trailer was shared on Instagram by Pickens back in October.
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Pickens commemorated the 20-minute production at it’s debut in October, just weeks before announcing he beat prostate cancer and urging others not to miss routine screenings.
He took to social media on November 15, 2025, saying, “Hi Friends, I’m blessed and grateful to be cancer-free. Thanks so much for all the love and support! Get checked!”
His public announcement video shared after an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” was also posted on Instagram, by Shondaland, with the caption, “Thank you to @therealjimpickens for speaking openly about prostate cancer, the increased risks Black men face, and the importance of early detection in last night’s Grey’s Anatomy episode.
“Share this, check in with the men in your life, and help spread the word.”
Speaking to Black Health Matters, Pickens, whose cancer was discovered early thanks to his vigilance, recounted, “It was rare enough that they wanted to make sure that they were crossing all the T’s and dotting all their I’s. But they hadn’t seen one that was detected as early as mine.”
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Pickens, who revealed his dad and some of his uncles were also diagnosed with prostate cancer, added, “I would have been surprised if I hadn’t gotten it.”
Due to his heightened risk of getting the disease, Pickens decided to begin regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in his early 40s to closely monitor his PSA levels and quickly identify any subtle changes.
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“I started getting my annual physical 34 years ago. And I started my PSA testing when I was 41,” Pickens said.
Last year, during a routine check-up, his doctor noticed a slight increase in his PSA levels, which led to further testing. He recalled, “My primary said, ‘Yeah, you know what? It’s ticked up some more. I want to send you back to the urologist.'”
A biopsy and PET scan revealed that he had prostate cancer, but it was limited to just one quadrant of the prostate. Without hesitation, Pickens decided to undergo a robotic radical prostatectomy.
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“We caught it really early, and so they thought that would be the best route to take. I do have a rare variant that you don’t see very often. They wanted to err on the side of caution and keep an eye on it,” Pickens said.
He ultimately told ABC News that his latest scans found “no detectable” signs of cancer.
Awareness In The Black Community
According to the American Cancer Society, men at average risk should start prostate cancer screening at age 50. Those at higher risk — including Black men and individuals with a close family history of the disease — are encouraged to begin screening earlier.
Black men, in particular, are now advised to start at age 40, which is 10 to 15 years sooner than average-risk individuals. For men with a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer, beginning annual screenings in their 30s may be worth considering.
“Prostate cancer affects men of all walks of life but it affects them differently,” Dr. Edwin Posadas, Medical Director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
“For example, the incidence of prostate cancer in African-American men is 60% higher, and they are two to three times more likely to die from the disease.”
Overwhelmingly Higher Prostate Cancer Rates For Black & Latino Men
As per the National Cancer Institute, death rates among Black men are higher or “more than twice” that of white men, ultimately leading to heightened efforts to boost early detection for this demographic.
When you do get screened for prostate cancer, your doctor will run a few tests.
One of the tests is the PSA test, a simple blood test that screens for prostate cancer. It looks for more significant amounts of protein-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. An elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer. It could also reflect that your prostate is enlarged, which is common, or it could signal an infection or inflammation.
Your doctor may also conduct a digital rectal exam (DRE) to check your prostate for lumps.
Depending on the results of these tests, imaging scans and a biopsy may be ordered.
WATCH: How Gleason Grade Determines Treatment
Prostate cancer does not always behave the same in every man it impacts. The cancer can be considered “low-risk” and can be slow-growing, and treatment might not be necessary. In other men, the cancer may grow faster or more aggressively, requiring more immediate treatment. Because of this, there is some debate about screening.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men at average risk between the ages of 55 and 69 years talk with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening.
The American Cancer Society recommends that men at age 50 who are at average risk should begin screening. Men who are at high risk of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 40. Men with a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer should consider annual screenings in their 30s.
SurvivorNet experts suggested that men consider factors like their family history, genes, and age when deciding whether and when to screen.
Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:
- Urinating more often
- Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
- Blood in your urine
- Trouble getting an erection
- Pain or burning when you urinate
- Pain in your back, hips, thighs, or other bones
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
If You’re Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer, What to Expect for Treatment?
After testing and establishing your risk, your doctor will discuss possible treatment options. These may range from active surveillance to more aggressive options, including surgery and radiation therapy.
WATCH: Coping emotionally after a prostate cancer diagnosis
Surgery is an option for men with any risk group of prostate cancer that hasn’t spread outside of the prostate gland. The type of surgery most often used is called a radical prostatectomy.
During the procedure, the surgeon removes the entire prostate, along with some tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles that release fluid into the semen. Your doctor can perform this through a traditional open procedure with one large or several small incisions, called laparoscopic surgery.
WATCH: Sexual Function Recovery After Prostate Cancer Surgery
Surgery side effects may include erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Fortunately, the side effects are usually temporary, and there are ways to help you manage them.
“Erectile function is so sensitive when we’re dealing with prostate cancer because the nerves that are critical for this function wrap around the prostate; they’re just so intimately connected to the prostate that they can be damaged from a surgical removal of the prostate or through radiation treatment,” Dr. Isla Garraway, a staff urologist in the Veterans Administration (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, told SurvivorNet.
Doctors often recommend sexual counseling after prostate cancer treatment to help improve sexual function. This approach actively addresses the psychological, emotional, and relationship impacts on sexual health.
Radiation therapy is often done when prostate cancer is caught early and confined to the prostate gland.
When Is It Okay to Share Your Diagnosis?
Some people battling a disease or cancer are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves or close loved ones. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches and everything in between, are valid.
“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explains.
Questions like “How much information should they share and with whom should they share the information?” are things Plutchik says patients take into consideration.
Do I Need to Share My Cancer Diagnosis in Social Situations?
Dr. Plutchik explains, “There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”
A cancer journey can last months to years, which means cancer warriors may be experiencing a lot of uncertainty until they fully understand where their health stands. This uncertainty can influence when a cancer patient is ready to share their diagnosis, Dr. Plutchik further explained.
Dr. Plutchik stresses that those close to a person going through cancer should be respectful of their wishes when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis and seeking support.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you have experienced symptoms associated with prostate cancer or have a screening coming up, here are some questions you may ask your doctor:
- If I had elevated PSA levels, what could be causing that besides cancer?
- How long will it take to learn if my PSA levels warrant further testing?
- What are the treatment options that are best suited for me based on my risk level?
- What financial resources exist to help me with the costs associated with treatment?
- How long will my potential treatment prevent me from working or continuing normal activities?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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