World Cancer Day: Changing the story for Black men and prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in men in the UK. And while 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime, not all men face the same risk.
Despite big advances in early detection/prevention and treatments, and improved outcomes in recent decades, prostate cancer continues to disproportionately affect Black men.
Black men double the risk of getting prostate cancer compared to white men. If you’re Black, you’re more likely to get the disease at a younger age, and more likely to get an incurable diagnosis.
This isn’t because Black men are doing anything wrong. It’s because the system hasn’t been built with everyone in mind.
Decades of under-representation in research, low trust in healthcare systems, and barriers to early testing mean that many Black men miss out on the chance of an earlier diagnosis. Current NHS guidelines don’t consistently reflect their higher risk, leaving too many men having to push for tests or fall through the cracks altogether.
On World Cancer Day, that inequity matters. And it demands action.
Here’s what we’re doing about it
Movember is proud to fund Prostate Cancer UK’s Black Health Equity work, a bold, long-term programme designed to tackle the systemic barriers that that negatively impact Black men trying to navigate prostate cancer.
We are supporting Prostate Cancer UK to achieve three missions:
Mission 1: Black men diagnosed early.
So that in five years’ time, more Black men who have prostate cancer will be diagnosed at a curable stage.
Mission 2: Eradicate treatment disparities.
So that in five years’ time, more Black men will feel supported in making an informed decision about their treatment, so that they can confidently choose the best one for them..
Mission 3: Ensure support is personalised, culturally informed and improves quality of life.
So that in five years’ time, more Black men will access prostate cancer support services because they feel that they are culturally sensitive, personalised, and improve their quality of life.
This work is about more than awareness. It’s about reducing avoidable deaths, empowering communities, and making sure fewer families lose fathers, partners, brothers and sons too soon.
Work like this is made possible by you
None of this happens without our supporters.
Every Mo grown, every conversation started, and every pound raised helps fund programmes like this one, where the impact goes beyond medicine and into the systems that shape men’s lives.
On World Cancer Day, we’re reminded that equity saves lives. And thanks to you, Movember is helping to build a future where a man’s chances of surviving prostate cancer are not determined by the colour of his skin.
Together, we’re changing the story.