I happen to visit this link: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsMenTop10Cancers/ From that link: Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Excerpt from that link: The 10 most commonly diagnosed cancers among men in the United States* included cancers of the prostate, lung, colon and rectum, and bladder; melanomas of the skin; non-Hodgkin lymphoma; kidney cancer, mouth and throat cancer, leukemias, and pancreatic cancer. The good news is: Men can reduce their risk for some of the most common cancers by avoiding smoking and receiving regular colorectal cancer screening tests starting at age 50. Anyway, the thing that wonders me is highlighted in blue: Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is by far the most common cancer in men. In the U.S. in 2005,* 185,895 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 28,905 died from the disease. Prostate cancer is more common among African-American men than men of other racial and ethnic groups, but medical experts do not know why. In 2005, 210.5 out of 100,000 African-American men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, compared to 132.8 white men, 116.4 Hispanic† men, 72.7 Asian/Pacific Islander men, and 64.6 American Indian/Alaska Native men. Lung Cancer More men die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. In the U.S.,* 107,416 men were diagnosed with lung cancer, and 90,139 men died from the disease. African-American men also are affected more by lung cancer than men of other races and ethnicities. In 2005, 101.6 out of 100,000 African-American men were diagnosed with lung cancer, compared to 83.9 white men, 49.7 American Indian/Alaska Native men, 49.0 Asian/Pacific Islander men, and 47.6 Hispanic† men. About 90% of lung cancer deaths in men in the U.S. are due to smoking. The most important thing a man can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking, or to quit if he currently smokes. Colorectal (Colon) Cancer Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men. It affects both men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, and is most often found in people aged 50 years or older. In 2005,* 64.9 out of 100,000 African-American men were diagnosed with prostate colon cancer, compared to 55.4 white men, 46.8 Hispanic† men, 40.6 Asian/Pacific Islander men, and 34.3 American Indian/Alaska Native men. Deaths from colorectal cancer could be cut by at least half if all people aged 50 years or older received regular screening tests. Speak with your doctor about colorectal cancer screening. So, why does African-American men more prone to cancer than other American men? Please discuss. Note: sorry for the missing verb in the thread title, I can't seem to edit the title.
It may have more to do with lifestyle than biology, but biology is not to be dismissed. Black men have a greater preponderance to poverty, poverty inevitably leads to increased drug, tobacco, alcohol abuse. When coupled with the fact that poorer black men have a tendency to be un/under-insured as well as the fact that all poorer men have a higher degree of "masculine toughness identity" which results in an egotistical resistance to proper medical care, it seems pretty obvious why cancer is more prevalent in black men than white men. I wonder if this statistic could be compared based upon American classes (poor white men vs. poor black men). ~String
Ow, thank you, that's nice of you, String! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I think of the poverty as well, although don't they need money to afford drugs, tobacco, and alcohol? You said about "un/under-insured", is insurance not obligatory in USA? Here in Germany, no one can register for school/uni/work/visa/housing without having insurance. In my home country (Indonesia) it is not obligatory, but mine is not developed country. Also, according the statistic in the OP, we can see that Asian/Pacific Islander men and American Indian/Alaska Native men have much lower rate of cancer, but I suppose that has to do with the fact that they are minority in the population. On the other hand, the African-American, eventhough is not the majority, has highest cancer rate, which shows that they are even more prone to cancer. p.s.: that's an interesting thought about the "masculine toughness identity". Actually, I guess this happens more to men than women, too. Men don't go to doctor unless their sickness started to disturb their work..
One of the theories is related to vitamin D production in vivo. Blacks have higher melanin content in their epidermis, which blocks UV-B rays and hence they tend to be more deficient in vitamin D than their pale skinned counterparts. If you collapse that data with findings that some of these cancers are found at a higher incidence in those latitudes where UV-B radiation is lower [and have a poorer or more lethal prognosis therein], the evidence seems to suggest that blacks have poor vitamin D status which may impact their resistance to developing cancer or recovering from it. More details: https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/time-for-more-vitamin-d.htm http://www.nhs.uk/news/2007/January08/Pages/Healtheffectsofsunshine.aspx http://www.pnas.org/content/105/2/668.abstract
Ooo...oooo... thanks for this information! I can't seem to open the first link (the one in the first quote, I guess it has to do with my crappy server Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!), but from your above link: I have to say I am surprised that skin color has effect on Vit D absorption. Thanks for info! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I would like to copy this from your link, too: Under the right circumstances, 10 to 15 minutes of sun on the arms and legs a few times a week can generate nearly all the vitamin D we need. Selected food sources of vitamin D Food.................................. ..... Vitamin D (IU*) Salmon, 3.5 ounces..................... 360 Mackerel, 3.5 ounces................... 345 Tuna, canned, 3.5 ounces............ 200 Orange juice, fortified, 8 ounces.... 100 Milk, fortified, 8 ounces................ 98 Breakfast cereals, fortified, 1 serving.. 40–100 *IU = international units Source: Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health
Just FYI, people tend to speak of vitamin D from food as identical in all ways to vitamin D manufactured in the skin. I don't think we know enough to have reached any firm conclusions. I suggest you spend more time outdoors rather than popping pills. I would add, however, that the benefits outweigh the risks at this point [with our limited knowledge]. So everyone should get their vitamin D levels tested and if its below 30 ng/dl, get supplemented asap.
I will ask my doctor next time how to get my vitamin D levels tested, thanks. I don't know if vitamin D from food might not identical to that manufactured in skin (from sunlight), but living in a bit high latitude especially in winter does lack the priviledge of having enough sunlight. This year, especially, is very odd. I remember world cup 2002 was opened on 11th of June, and that day was extremely hot, I was fainted with my nose firstly bleeding. However, today (21st of June) is suppose to be the start of new summer, but here in Europe, or to be exact Germany, the weather is still bad. It's still cold, most people still wear jacket / thin mantel.
