A prostate cancer campaigner who lost as many as 54 relatives to the illness has outlined the key questions loved ones should ask of men to save their lives. Simeon Greene's three brothers were among his family members who succumbed to the illness. The 60-year-old, from Wolverhampton, said he believed a stigma stopped them revealing their diagnoses until he too disclosed he had cancer.
Now he is urging black men, who are at increased risk of developing prostate cancer, to break the silence around it. He said: “Partners are important as they can be more open about talking about prostate cancer. They can say, ‘why are you getting up so often to go to the toilet? That’s not like you. What’s changed? Get an appointment’, or ‘your dad/uncle/brother had cancer so please don’t think you’re immune because you have no symptoms’.”
In Simeon’s case, incontinence was the key symptom. Frequent night-time waking and difficulties when travelling eventually prompted his partner to push him to see a doctor. He said: “Black men are twice as likely as men in the general population to get prostate cancer, and one in four will develop it. But your chances are far higher if you have a family history of the condition.”
Reflecting on his brothers’ diagnoses, he added: “I was shocked when I called my brothers to tell them about my diagnosis, to find they also had prostate cancer. There is definitely a reluctance to talk about this and black men just have to get over it. I’m passionate about saying that if you have a family history of prostate cancer and you are over 40 you should talk to you doctor about a PSA test even if you have no symptoms. The earlier you get sorted, the earlier your survival.”
Myth-busting has become central to Simeon’s mission, as misconceptions continue to deter men from seeking help. He said: “The PSA test is a blood test like absolutely any other blood test. There is no screening programme but that does not stop men being proactive and asking about it when they see their GP. Black men aren’t just more likely to develop prostate cancer, they are statistically more likely to have it diagnosed at a later stage when it is more difficult to treat.”
Simeon is now a patient advocate for the West Midlands Cancer Alliance (WMCA) and has worked with Prostate Cancer UK to produce a video encouraging black men to get tested. Sarah Hughes, managing director of WMCA, said: “Simeon’s research shows how hereditary factors can play a part in how susceptible you may be to cancer. As with all cancers, early diagnosis and awareness are really key to successful treatment, which is why the work of Simeon and our other patient advocates is so valuable.”
Keith Morgan, associate director of black health equity at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Too many black men in the West Midlands are getting the devastating news they have incurable prostate cancer. We must act now before more dads, brothers, and partners are left behind.”
