By Khalid Magram

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, also known as Movember, is helpful in raising awareness about the deadly disease. But the Walnut Foundation is encouraging African-Canadian men to remain vigilant regarding prostate cancer and to count on the group for support — even after Movember moustaches have been shaved off. “We want to organize support groups for Black men and their families, provide information to improve quality of life, and influence public policy about health needs of the Black community,” says Dr. Winston Isaac, a prostate cancer survivor and founder of the Walnut Foundation.

Dr. Isaac is concerned that not enough attention is paid to Black men’s health, especially the issue of prostate cancer and the importance of early screening. He says even with his healthcare background, he was not as informed as he could have been. It made him question the awareness of other Black men. “I am not sure if the message is getting through that prostate cancer has a high prevalence in Black men,” says Dr. Isaac, who is also an associate professor in health policy and administration at Ryerson University.

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The Walnut Foundation’s main objective is to create awareness about prostate cancer and the need for early detection in the Black community. Dr. Isaac says that in regards to detection, Black men aged 40 and over must have a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test to establish a baseline. “The test can show the level of PSA in the blood,” he explains. “As a Black man, make sure that you know your PSA value. This way, you’ll know if you have a jump in results the next time you have the test. Having an established PSA baseline can save your life.”

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men of African descent. The good news is that when detected early, it is curable. Another important fact is that prostate cancer does not just affect older men. Simon Samuel, 54, was a major influence when the Walnut Foundation was founded. He says, “I was diagnosed when I was 49-years-old, so prostate cancer is not an old man’s disease. It’s showing more and more in younger people.”

Samuel’s long-term vision for the Foundation is to first take it national and then international to support Black men across Canada, the Caribbean and in Africa countries. In the meantime, Samuel and Isaac both say that women play a crucial role in getting men to seek help for health concerns. They also recommend that men turn to their wives and family for emotional support. “Family support is needed to help with healing from prostate cancer,” says Samuel. “If you don’t have family and friends’ support, you’re like a fish out of water.”