African Caribbean communities & prostate cancer
Evidence suggests that men from African Caribbean communities are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men and often at a younger age. Despite this, recent surveys have shown that African Caribbean men are unaware of their increased risk. As a result The Charity has dedicated one of its five strategy Goals to raising awareness of prostate cancer in African Caribbean communities.
In September 2003 the Charity launched the African Caribbean Awareness Project (ACAP), funded by the Department of Health, to raise awareness of prostate cancer within the African Caribbean community and promote access to health care services. Evaluation of the project showed that partnership work with voluntary, statutory and community organisations had been successful in improving awareness of the risks and symptoms of prostate cancer within these communities as well as uptake of information and services.
Following the success of the project, The Charity has recognised the continued need amongst African Caribbean communities for information and awareness and further work is an essential part of our work.
The Older & Wiser Project
Following the development of the UK-wide volunteer programme, the Older & Wiser Project aims to train and support African Caribbean men to become community champions to raise awareness within their own community. Following findings from initial work on the project, work in 2009 will focus on African Caribbean communities in Hackney, Lambeth and Newham.
Visit our Older & Wiser page for more information about the project or to find out about becoming a community champion.
Raising Awareness in the West Midlands
The Charity has appointed one of its Specialist Information and Support Nurse Suresh Rambaran, to carry out awareness raising work with African Caribbean communities in the West Midlands. If you are located within the West Midlands area and would like to request we deliver a Prostate Cancer Awareness talk to your community group please email: talks@ prostate-cancer.org.uk.
Research into Prostate Cancer and the African Caribbean Community
There is little evidence-based knowledge available to help us fully understand the impact prostate cancer has upon African Caribbean communities. The Charity has started a major piece of work, building the knowledge base around prostate cancer and this community. This will include research reviews combined with community-based focus group work to help us understand how prostate cancer affects African Caribbean communities and how we can best respond to their needs by providing culturally appropriate information and support services. View recent research findings.