American Cancer Society Fights Rise in Prostate Cancer and Disparities

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has launched a new initiative geared toward “Improving Mortality from Prostate Cancer Together,” called IMPACT. ACS executive leaders announced the program at an event Jan. 12 at Howard University in Washington, D.C., on the heels of the release of ACS’ widely-cited annual Cancer Statistics report. IMPACT will work to address inequities and a resurgence in prostate cancer, the number two leading cause of cancer death for men in the U.S., with the highest incidence and mortality in Black men.

After two decades of decline, prostate cancer increased 3% per year from 2014 through 2019, driven by advanced-stage diagnoses and less PSA or prostate-specific antigen testing. Since 2011, the diagnosis of advanced-stage prostate cancer has increased by 4% to 5% annually and the proportion of men diagnosed with distant-stage disease has doubled.

IMPACT will be a three-fold strategy designed to reverse prostate cancer disparities and reduce death rates from prostate cancer in all demographics and disparities for Black men by 2035. The goal is for this program to be the largest funded initiative in the history of ACS, leveraging the organization’s unique strengths to mobilize resources across advocacy, patient support, and research.

Dr. William Dahut, ACS chief scientific officer, said, “We must address these shifts in prostate cancer, especially in the Black community, since the incidence of prostate cancer in Black men is 70% higher than in White men and prostate cancer mortality rates in Black men are approximately two to four times higher than those in every other racial and ethnic group.”

“Our overall goals, for all men, can only be accomplished with community partnerships, including standing shoulder to shoulder with trusted organizations that share our vision to meaningfully address disparities in prostate cancer,” Dr. Karen Knudsen, ACS CEO, said. “This is a critical initiative, and we are seeking partnerships with diverse stakeholders to ensure its success.”

At the event, Dr. Knudsen told attendees ACS is working to “end prostate cancer as we know it, for everyone.”