“Black men are taught to be tough, not to show emotions, but we have to get out of that way of thinking. If you care about someone else in your life, you need to do what’s right for your health,” says Anthony Lisenby, patient. He believes it’s time to start really talking about what’s going on, especially when it comes to your health. That’s the reason behind the ESSENCE and Janssen Oncology special series featuring Dr. Caudle, a board-certified Family Medicine physician and Associate Professor in the department of Family Medicine at Rowan University-School of Osteopathic Medicine.
There are several diseases, both common and rare, that disproportionally impact the Black population. While multiple myeloma comprises only ~2% of all new cancer cases in the United States, it is the most common blood cancer among the Black population, and they are twice as likely to be diagnosed compared with other Americans. Having a healthcare appointment, vocalizing symptoms to your healthcare providers, and demonstrating urgency when anticipating a diagnosis are all critical components of achieving the best possible treatment outcomes for this serious disease.
History Doesn’t Have to Repeat
Anthony reflects on how his family doesn’t openly discuss their health. “When my grandfather passed away, I never knew he had health issues. No one ever talked about it,” he says. “You don’t want to bring it up because you don’t want to bring up bad memories, but we need to know where we come from and what our family’s health histories are.”
“Remember that paying attention to what your doctor has shared with you is really beneficial, especially early on,” says Anthony’s wife, Jacqueline. Anthony says, “Black men are taught to be tough, not to show emotions, but we have to get out of that way of thinking. If you care about someone else in your life, you need to do what’s right for your health.”
What Is Preventative Care & Why Is It Important for Our General Health?
Black patients are inclined to avoid physicians and tend to keep health-related matters close to home—after all, why should you see a doctor if you’re healthy? Well, preventive care is all the stuff you do to help prevent you from getting sick—it will help you stay healthier and keep healthcare costs down.
Here are some examples of preventative health:
Immunizations: From childhood through adulthood, vaccines help prevent diseases like measles, hepatitis and shingles.
Flu shot: Help reduce your risk of getting the flu or significantly reduce the chances of serious flu symptoms that could lead to hospitalization.
Annual checkup: In addition to a physical exam, your annual checkup can include important general health screenings for a variety of health conditions.
Self monitor: Listening to your body is an important step. Don’t simply dismiss minor, persistent aches and pains. Too often we ignore minor pains, but if they persist, they may be indicators of something more serious.
Cancer screenings: Most people don’t experience cancer symptoms when the disease is in its earliest stages. That’s why screenings are recommended at certain times and intervals throughout your life. Click here to see a full list of cancer screenings by age to help you know when to ask the important questions.
Preventative care helps lay the foundation for a good relationship with your doctor. This is important to help catch and diagnose rare diseases. As an example, multiple myeloma is a cancer that takes more than medicine to manage it. Create a plan together that addresses more than just the symptoms and disease and takes care of your mind and body.
To hear more from Anthony, Jacqueline, and Dr. Jen about the importance of having a good relationship with your doctor and knowing the signs and symptoms of key diseases that disproportionately impact Black men and women, watch the video now. And click here if you want to see more about identifying diseases and check out this article to learn more about how you can advocate for your health.
To learn more about multiple myeloma go to ThatsMyWordMM.com today!
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