By: Sandra Melvin, DrPH, MPH, MLS, CEO/Founding President of The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health
Too many men wait until symptoms appear before getting tested. That approach is costing lives. Chronic disease testing and cancer screening are not optional wellness activities; they are essential tools for preventing disease, detecting it early, and giving men more time with their families, workplaces, and communities.
In Mississippi, the stakes are especially high. Prostate cancer remains a serious threat. According to the National Cancer Institute, Mississippi’s prostate cancer incidence rate is 139.0 per 100,000 men, higher than the U.S. rate of 116.4, and the prostate cancer death rate is 24.8 per 100,000, compared with 19.2 nationally. Colorectal cancer also continues to place a heavy burden on our state. Mississippi’s colorectal cancer incidence rate is 46.0 per 100,000, compared with 36.7 nationally, and the death rate is 17.7 per 100,000, compared with 12.9 nationally.
These numbers represent fathers, brothers, husbands, sons, coworkers, pastors, coaches, and neighbors. They also remind us that early detection matters. Prostate cancer screening conversations, colorectal cancer screening, blood pressure checks, cholesterol testing, A1C testing, and routine primary care visits can identify risk before a crisis occurs.
Heart disease and diabetes must be part of this conversation. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Annual Prevalence Report (2023), 11.3% of men in Mississippi report having been told they have cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, angina, coronary heart disease, or stroke. Diabetes is also highly prevalent among men in Mississippi. About 18.0% of Mississippi men report having been told they have diabetes. Nationally, heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men, and many men may have no symptoms before a serious cardiac event.
We have a responsibility to help change the culture around men’s health. Testing is not a sign of weakness. It is an act of leadership, discipline, and prevention. Men should know their numbers, understand their risks, and talk with a trusted health care provider about the screenings appropriate for their age, family history, and personal health profile.
I am asking every man in our organization and every family member we serve to take one concrete step: schedule the appointment, complete the recommended screening, ask the question, and follow through.
Early detection saves lives, but only when we make testing a priority. Men’s health cannot wait until something feels wrong. Prevention starts with action.