As a black man in the mid -forties of my life and a researcher in ethnic inequality in the diagnosis of cancer, I read the story of Steve McQueen with personal and professional attention (“My father’s death saved my life,” the director Steve McQueen about sadness, gratitude and cancer, April 5). His call for early detection is strong – but the article will benefit from the important differences regarding the diagnosis of prostate and sweat/sweat.
Black men usually have a higher basis – a biological contrast that is rarely recognized and can lead to excessive diagnosis if global thresholds are applied. Moreover, UK data shows that black men are less likely to have advanced prostate cancer compared to white men.
Although he is emotionally convincing, calls for the targeted inspection of race -based policy must be based. Without this, we risk strengthening or even generating new inequality.
The focus should be more on shared decisions that include a set of factors-including the age, family history, assets and social determinants of health-instead of focusing on race.
Tanimola Martins
Old research colleague, University of Exeter
