Overview:
At Live Laugh Learn 2025, physicians and survivors at the U of M’s Masonic Cancer Center called for earlier screenings in Black communities. Prostate cancer screening at 45 (40 with family history), plus timely breast and colorectal checks, can catch disease sooner and save lives. “We’re thriving, not surviving,” said survivor-leader Monisha Washington.
Last Saturday, a powerful panel of doctors, cancer survivors and physicians gathered at the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center for Live Laugh Learn 2025, a cancer awareness event focused on the disparities in breast, prostate and colorectal cancer within the Black community. The message was clear and urgent: Don’t wait. Early detection saves lives, and existing screening guidelines may not go far enough, particularly for Black patients.
“We are thriving, not surviving,” said Monisha Washington, director of the Breast Cancer GAPS Project. “We need to change our language.”
Prostate cancer, a particular concern for African American men, was a major topic of discussion. Urologist Dr. Aaron Milbank highlighted the stark reality: “Prostate cancer is 43% more common in African American men, and unfortunately, it’s also more lethal. We don’t really know why that is… but it is significantly more lethal in African American men than in non-African American men.”
Milbank emphasized the importance of early PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) testing. African American men should begin screening at age 45, or age 40 if they have a family history of prostate cancer.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) currently recommends PSA screening for men aged 55 to 69, but many medical organizations, including the American Urological Association, advise earlier screening for Black men, given their heightened risk. Unfortunately, despite these guidelines, many Black men are not diagnosed until the disease is in its advanced stages, when treatment options are limited and survival rates drop.
Washington, who has lived through this cycle of delay and dismissal, shared a deeply personal story. Her mother, diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 30s, was repeatedly turned away by doctors who dismissed her concerns due to her age. Washington herself experienced a similar struggle when she sought help for a lump in her breast at age 35. Despite her persistence, she was initially sent away, told she was “too young” to be at risk.
After being ignored by her primary care provider, Washington sought care elsewhere. She was diagnosed with breast cancer six months ago, an experience that led her to create the “Young Thrivers Network,” a support group for young breast cancer survivors; many of whom are under 40.
“We got people 30, 35 years old getting diagnosed. What does that mean? We need to change our language, “Washington urged the audience. “Get checked. If you have a family history, get checked.”
Billy Brownlee, a prostate cancer survivor, spoke candidly about the cultural stigmas surrounding health in Black communities. He recounted the messages he received growing up: “Too often in our community, we’re told to man up, tough it out. If it ain’t broke, busting and bleeding, you don’t need to go to the hospital. You good.”
Brownlee stressed that prioritizing one’s health is not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom. “Early detection is not fear, it’s wisdom… checking up on yourself.”
Dr. James Williams added another layer to the conversation, discussing the medical mistrust that often exists not only among patients but also within the medical community itself. “Six years ago, I almost died, and I didn’t go to a doctor. Why? I was afraid. I’m a doctor and I was afraid of the information the doctor was going to tell me,” Williams confessed.
He also highlighted the ongoing decline in the number of Black physicians in the U.S. “There are fewer African American doctors now than before I trained in the 1980s. It makes it more difficult to find a doctor that looks like you. It makes it more difficult to find a doctor that you trust.”
Throughout the event, speakers emphasized the power of faith, lifestyle changes, and community support. Brownlee, reflecting on his cancer journey, shared an empowering message: “I’m not just alive today. I’m living today. We’re not defined by what tried to destroy us. We’re defined by what we overcame.”
Washington, who is undergoing chemotherapy, has embraced intermittent fasting, exercise, and a plant-based diet to help her body endure the aggressive treatment. “We gotta do something differently. If you know you have a family history of cancer, do something differently,” she encouraged attendees.
The gathering reinforced the importance of early screening, open conversations about health, and a shift in the way the medical community and individuals approach cancer care in the Black community. For those at risk, the panel’s message was loud and clear: Don’t wait. Get checked, because early detection truly saves lives.
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