Black men are 60 percent more likely to suffer from prostate cancer than white males, according to statistics.

The latest figures from the American Cancer Society have revealed the startling statistic. They also state black men have a higher death rate, 64 percent compared to 26 percent for white men.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lifetime risk for black men in the US being diagnosed with prostate cancer is one in five. Rhonda Smith-Simmons, education officer for Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, said because of the risk to black men, this is one reason why the Centre is recommending Bermudian men undergo their first PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test at the age of 40.

Mrs. Smith-Simmons, MBA, told a meeting of Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday, that the age at which men should start getting screened for the disease was "a topic of great debate".

Although the American Cancer Society recommends all men over-50 should have regular PSA blood tests and DREs (Digital Rectal Examinations), this drops to the age of 45 for African-Americans or men with a family history of the disease, particularly if a father, son or brother was diagnosed before the age of 65.

Mrs. Smith-Simmons said: "In Bermuda, because of the known increased risk of the disease for black men, our centre recommends that men have a baseline test by the age of 40 years.

"If there is a strong family history, this screening may be recommended even earlier."

She said that although the prevalence of the disease increased with age, with prostate cancer present in 80 percent of 80-year-old men, it nevertheless was "slow growing". "The likelihood is that the person will die of another chronic illness before he can succumb to prostate disease," said Mrs. Smith-Simmons.

However, it was still a "serious health threat" and there are signs that younger men are increasingly being diagnosed with the disease.

Currently one in six men in the US will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Mrs. Smith-Simmons said: "I do not have the current statistics for the incidence in Bermuda, but in 2008, the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) employed Tumour Special Project Manager, Katura Horton-Perinchief, who is diligently working to get our registry up-to-date."

This month is the second year the Cancer and Health Centre has run a Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The publicity campaign is being sponsored by Arch Capital Group and Belco.

The Royal Gazette has also teamed up with the Centre to promote awareness, with a series of articles seeking to alert men to the dangers of the disease and the importance of getting tested.

Yesterday Mrs. Smith-Simmons said the newspaper coverage seemed to be having a positive effect, with more men contacting the Centre to ask about being tested.

She said: "Men don't tend to be as concerned about their health as women are. Women are groomed from a young age to have tests to stay healthy, but men don't have that same guidance.

"Also, prostate cancer has been one of the things which may have been considered a taboo subject in the past."

She said: "But now I think we are actually making a breakthrough, just based on the amount of articles in The Royal Gazette this month.

"A young man was reading the articles and up to this time wasn't paying much attention or being proactive, and he has called to say that after reading the articles in The Royal Gazette he is going to be tested. So we are making a breakthrough. We feel the articles have gone a long way in opening up the topic for discussion and taking it from the realm of taboo to men feeling they should get tested."

In terms of being treated for the disease, Mrs. Smith-Simmons said this was based on the individual, as factors include: age; the stage of the disease; general health of the patient; how aggressive the cancer is; and the patient's personal choice.

She said those seeking treatment should be men who are diagnosed with an "aggressive form of the disease" and those who are "symptomatic".

"Aggressive treatments would not be warranted for someone with a life expectancy of less than ten years," she added.

The choices of treatment include: active surveillance aka 'watchful waiting'; surgery; radiation; hormone therapy; and chemotherapy.

She said: "Surgery is suggested for a younger man with prostate cancer. It is mostly used for early stages of the disease and may involve removal of all or a portion of the prostate."

Nerve sparing techniques can minimise some of the side effects of surgery, such as incontinence or impotence. Active surveillance is recommended in cases where the risks and possible side effects of treatment outweigh the possible benefits, or if the man is suffering from another chronic illness. It typically involves having PSA and DRE tests every three or six months. Hormone therapy can consist of either LH-RH agonists to prevent testicles from making the testosterone which fuels the cancer, or anti-androgens to block the effect of male hormones, thereby slowing the disease down.

Radiation therapy is an option for men with any stage of prostate cancer and can be either external or internal treatment. Chemotherapy is used when the cancer has spread and no longer responds to hormone therapy. Mrs. Smith-Simmons said: "Researchers are currently working on a prostate cancer vaccine. However, none produced thus far has been approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration)."

On June 27, the Cancer and Health Centre is holding a free PSA screening for men over 40 who have no medical insurance or who have not had a test for 12 months, in partnership with the Bermuda Hospitals Board. It takes place at 46 Point Finger Road between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

This Thursday and Friday, A.S. Cooper's is offering late-night shopping with special savings supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Shoppers who donate $1 or more to the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre campaign will receive a blue ribbon tack pin, to show their support.