Understanding and Addressing Prostate Cancer Stigma in Black Men

PCS is delighted to help publicise the Destigmatise campaign run by Hull York Medical School. Launched in March 2026, this initiative is looking to understand and tackle stigma associated with prostate cancer within Black communities across the UK by asking for responses to an online survey.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in the United Kingdom.

It affects 1 in 4 Black men (men of Black African and Caribbean descent) compared with 1 in 8 White and 1 in 13 Asian men. Early diagnosis enhances men’s survival rates from prostate cancer. However, evidence suggests that self-stigma, public stigma, and structural stigma prevent Black men from talking openly about prostate cancer and from seeking timely help for symptoms, probably due to its association with death and/or lessened masculinity. This causes delays in diagnosis and increased death rates from prostate cancer among Black men. There is a lack of UK-based research which has specifically sought to understand and address stigma related to prostate cancer among Black men, despite their poorer outcomes from the disease.

To find our more and sign up to take the online survey, please visit this link.