Dr. Mahal on the Prevalence of Prostate Cancer in African American Men

Brandon Mahal, MD, assistant professor of radiation oncology, assistant director of community outreach and engagement, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, discusses the prevalence of prostate cancer among African American men. 

Long-standing research has shown that African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer ​compared with the general population, says Mahal. Moreover, patient​s of African descent are at a higher risk of developing more aggressive disease, with increased mortality.

As such, in recent years, the field has focused on identifying the key drivers ​of this disparity, Mahal explains.

Since 2018, research has shown that patients with similar disease characteristics ​who receive a similar course of therapy ​tend to have comparable outcomes​, Mahal says. This emphasizes the importance of ​ensuring all patients have access to proper care.

Future research efforts should focus on determining why African American men are at a higher risk of developing ​prostate cancer, Mahal concludes.