February 4 marked the convergence of two observances: World Cancer Day and Black History Month. Carver Federal Savings Bank locations in Harlem and Bed-Stuy were dedicated to honoring this occasion.
For the third year in a row, Carver Bank, the largest Black-owned financial institution, brought prostate cancer screenings to its Black and Brown customers and bystanders in these Black and Caribbean communities. Mobile screening buses for the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test were parked outside the banks, and Black representatives guided their peers to seek awareness about prostate health.
The event was part of the Blue Jacket Initiative, a series of annual events aimed at raising awareness about prostate cancer, and was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and the Local Initiatives Support Corp (LISC).
“As an organization dedicated to building stronger, healthier communities, we recognize that keeping our communities thriving means keeping the men in them healthy,”” said LISC President and CEO Michael T. Pugh. “Access to healthcare isn’t just about awareness; it’s about overcoming real barriers. LISC is proud to partner with Zero Cancer and the Blue Jacket Initiative to bring resources ranging from mobile screenings to transportation and community partnerships into the neighborhoods that need them most.”
The Harlem location (75 W. 125th Street) provided informational brochures containing statistical data, with partner organizations like Mount Sinai and ZERO Prostate Cancer represented at tables set up inside.
“With ZERO Prostate Cancer, health equity is a part of our DNA, and everything that we do in saving lives from prostate cancer is focused on ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to detect, treat, and ultimately survive prostate cancer,” said Sherí Barros, CMO and communications officer at ZERO Prostate Center. “What we’re aware of is the fact that, in spite of some of the advances that we’ve made with early detection, we continue to see that there is a disparity in prostate cancer survival relative to African American men.”
ZERO received support from more than 160 groups across the nation, offering peer connections that promoted early detection and treatment of health issues. Many of these groups targeted underserved communities to ensure access to essential resources. The annual caregiver summit also provided support for patients and their loved ones, while its ZERO 360 hotline offered guidance about screening, diagnosis, and treatment options.
The free screenings helped to combat the early signs of prostate cancer in Black men, of whom are which will affect one in six Black men during their lifetimes, compared to slightly more than the one in eight men in general. The core of the disparity is in the affordability of prostate checks and misinformation.
The goal is “to break down the stigma, quite frankly, around not talking about health, and the importance of what questions to ask your doctor when you’re going in for your physicals — to make sure that you’re checking those PSA numbers to look for any red flags,” Barrios said. “One of the things we do at ZERO: We have three pillars for how we help save lives from prostate cancer.”
Dr. Errol Mallett, a Black urologist affiliated with One Brooklyn Health and NOVEIS Health, told the Amsterdam News that representation played a critical role in how Black men perceived prostate exams.
“Today’s going very well,” Mallett said of the event. “The turnout seems quite impressive, which is the objective: to get the men out to be screened. Prostate cancer is very prevalent in the African American, (and) Afro Caribbean community. Not only is the incidence higher (70%), but the disease seems to be a different kind of cancer than occurs in the general population. It tends to be more aggressive, so therefore, there is more likelihood of significant consequences from prostate cancer in that particular group.”
Mallett noted that while the death rate from prostate cancer had been relatively low and consistent over the years, it remained the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Early screenings can greatly improve survival rates, with men diagnosed at an early stage, with a survival rate of over 99% within a five-year timeframe. The optimal age for Black men to start screening early for prostate cancer is 40, according to Mallett.
Most of the exam involved blood work, and there was an optional rectal exam — the Digital Rectum Exam (DRE). However, it is advised that both screenings be done together for the most effective detection of prostate cancer.
“This is just another opportunity for Carver Bank to be in the community to deliver a wellness activity for folks (who) reside around our branch,” said Tony Holmes, head of retail banking. “We’re not just about banking services here at Carver Bank. We’re also about community empowerment, community development, community enrichment, and part of that is through health initiatives or things that are not necessarily in the bank’s wheelhouse. Each year, we get more adept at how we get the message out and how we notify and drive awareness to get more people screened. That’s our ultimate goal — our goal here is solely getting the community screened for prostate cancer … how we get that message out in a simple, seamless way is something we’re always thinking about how we can do better.”