As Black men, we might find it hard to talk about worrying or painful experiences for fear of judgment or the concern that others might think less of us. But the truth is, we're not alone. Talking about our feelings doesn't make us weak. It shows us how we can support one another to the fullest.
There's no shame in seeking a doctor's help.
There's no shame in protecting our health.
More than one million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC) every year. PC is simply too common to stay silent. Believe it or not, speaking up about our prostate health makes a difference. Your voice matters more than you might think.

YOU CAN COME UP WITH A MILLION EXCUSES IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING. IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING THERE'S NOTHING THAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. I SEE MY BROTHER, I SEE MY SISTER, I SEE MY MOM, I SEE MY KIDS, THAT'S ALL THE REASON I NEED RIGHT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT MY HEALTH IS IN GREAT SHAPE.
Shannon Sharpe, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Host of Undisputed, Talk That Talk Ambassador, Prostate Cancer Survivor
BARRIERS TO OUR HEALTH CARE
THE FAMILY MAY NOT TALK ABOUT IT, BUT WE NEED TO
It's understandable: You don't want to burden your family with bad news. But by staying silent about our prostate health, we neglect the other people who can be impacted by our genes. If we don't know if certain cancers run in families, we might not get the personalized care and attention we need.
We owe it as much to our family as we do to ourselves. When we talk about our prostate health, we not only make better decisions about our personal health, but we also allow our children and grandchildren to live healthier lives as well.
Unless we talk about PC, we won't know if others close to us are experiencing the same thing.

I HAVE SEEN THE HESITANCY TO TALK ABOUT DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND TESTING WITHIN MY OWN FAMILY, SO I BELIEVE THE MORE THAT I SPEAK OUT IT WILL HELP BREAK DOWN THOSE BARRIERS WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
Mical R., Prostate Cancer Patient and Advocate
OUR STORY IS OUR STRENGTH — LEAN ON COMMUNITY
Sometimes, we don't want our friends to know private details about our lives. Sometimes, talking about prostate-related issues brings up feelings of shame and being powerless.
Turning to others for support is not weak.
In fact, searching for strength in numbers is one of the smartest and bravest things you can do. Sharing our truth is the only way to end the silence around prostate cancer. And sharing our truth gives us insight into the care we deserve.

WE KNOW THAT BLACK MEN ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF PROSTATE CANCER, AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME TALKING ABOUT THAT RISK.
Mical R., Prostate Cancer Patient and Advocate