My prostate needs a witness protection program. It hasn’t committed any crimes, but it’s higher up on a target list for prostate cancer—simply because I am a black male.
I first became aware of my prostate’s vulnerability during a lecture on prostate cancer I attended as a medical student. The lecturer began his talk by highlighting risk factors for prostate cancer. He emphasized that black men are 1.6 times more likely to get prostate cancer compared to others. As he said “black men,” he slowly turned towards me—one of few black dudes in the class— and awkwardly stared for several seconds, subconsciously making my prostate feel like it needed some hardcore church “Prayer Warriors.” After further research, I realized two things: there are no witness protection programs for prostates and certain foods may decrease my prostate’s chances of ending up on a “Prayer Bulletin.” September was prostate cancer awareness month, and it’s now October. I may be late, but useful information shouldn’t have a month-long expiration date.
So, let’s talk about some prostate facts, the role of foods in prostate cancer prevention, and a delicious prostate-friendly recipe.
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I am a physician and trained chef. I specialize in gastroenterology and nutrition. Currently I work as the Associate Director of Adult Nutrition at the University of Chicago.
