As we mark the end of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the collaboration between the African American Wellness Project (https://aawellnessproject.org/) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (https://www.pcf.org/) highlights an urgent issue: the disproportionate impact of prostate cancer on Black men and the cost of care.
An estimated 299,010 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, with approximately 35,200 deaths. The five-year survival rate for all stages is an encouraging 98%, but the cost of care places a heavy burden on patients. The average cost for Medicare patients with localized prostate cancer is around $14,453 for the first three years post-diagnosis. For those with metastatic prostate cancer, the annual cost can climb to $31,427.
These financial burdens, combined with disparities in access to care, pose significant challenges. Common treatments such as radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and active surveillance come with steep costs, ranging from $10,000 to $135,000 for surgery and up to $115,501 for certain radiation therapies.
“For Black men, who are often diagnosed with more aggressive and later-stage disease, these costs represent serious barriers to survival. Despite advances in treatment, access to these life-saving options is limited for many due to cost, insurance coverage, and systemic healthcare inequities. “Education and early intervention are key in reducing disparities,” Dr. Dawud Lankford, MD, MPH, AAWP executive board member and founder of UroHealth.
The disparities faced by Black men are not solely financial. Systemic barriers in healthcare contribute to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Research shows that Black men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at younger ages and in more advanced stages. These realities compound the financial strain, as treatments for advanced cases come with higher costs, particularly when expensive medications are involved. Drugs like enzalutamide and abiraterone, used in treating advanced prostate cancer, can cost patients between $9,854 and $13,000 annually.
“Black men are 1.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 2 times more likely to die from it compared to white men. We must ensure they have the same access to treatment and care as everyone else. Together, the African American Wellness Project and the Prostate Cancer Foundation are committed to making sure Black men and their families have the resources they need to combat prostate cancer,” emphasizes Gina Carithers, President of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Moreover, Carithers notes, “We know that equity is possible. In the VA, an equal-access healthcare system, African American men with prostate cancer do not present with more advanced disease or experience delays in care compared with White men. Through 21 PCF-VA Centers of Excellence around the country, we fund research to speed the development of treatments and cures for prostate cancer, improving the quality of care for all Veterans.”
The cost of treatment extends far beyond direct medical expenses, especially for the Black community. An AARP study found that Black men often turn to their families for support in navigating the healthcare system. Fifty-three percent of respondents in the AARP survey said their spouse or partner had the most influence on their healthcare decisions, followed closely by parents or elders (48%). In this context, the family becomes a cornerstone of the Black community’s health and well-being.
However, the burden of care on these families is enormous. The financial strain on loved ones, who are often already managing multiple responsibilities, can be overwhelming. The price tag of prostate cancer treatments — including hospitalization, surgery, medications, and ongoing care — often forces families to make impossible choices.
“While there is hope in the form of early detection and effective treatment options, these advancements are only meaningful if they are accessible to all. Health disparities cannot be eliminated by medical breakthroughs alone; they require changes to policy, outreach, and systemic healthcare reform. Drug companies, hospitals, and lawmakers need to work together to lower the cost of care and improve access to early detection and advanced treatment options for all men, especially those in underserved communities,” said AAWP President and Prostate Cancer survivor Dr. Michael LeNoir
As Prostate Cancer Awareness Month ends, it is crucial that we move beyond awareness and commit to concrete action. Policymakers, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies must collaborate to reduce the cost of cancer care and eliminate the systemic inequities that disproportionately impact Black men. We urge legislators to prioritize healthcare reform and medical research innovation that makes early detection and advanced treatment options, including clinical trials, accessible and affordable for everyone. Black men deserve equitable care, and we must ensure that they and their families have the resources to combat this devastating disease. Now is the time for urgent change — we cannot afford to wait.
Sources:
1. Facts & Figures 2024, American Cancer Society (ACS), Atlanta, Georgia, 2024.
2.Trogdon JG, Falchook AD, Basak R, Carpenter WR, Chen RC. Total Medicare Costs Associated With Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer in Elderly Men. JAMA Oncol. 2019;5(1):60–66. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.3701
3.Olsen TA, Filson CP, Richards TB, Ekwueme DU, Howard DH. The Cost of Metastatic Prostate Cancer in the United States. Urol Pract. 2023 Jan;10(1):41-47. doi: 10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000363. Epub 2022 Dec 19.PMID: 37
Riviere P, Luterstein E, Kumar A, Vitzthum LK, Deka R, Sarkar RR, Bryant AK, Bruggeman A, Einck JP, Murphy JD, Martínez ME, Rose BS. Survival of African American and non-Hispanic White Men With Prostate Cancer in an Equal-Access Health Care System. Cancer. 2020 Apr 15;126(8):1683-1690. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32666