Shannon Sharpe & Hereditary Risk For Prostate Cancer
- Prostate cancer screening guidelines released this year now urge Black men to begin screening at 40 years old, which is 10 to 15 years earlier than men at average risk. The National Cancer Institute says among Black men, “death rates are higher” or “more than twice” that of white men, sparking increased efforts to boost early detection for this demographic.
- Footballer player Sharpe was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 after several family members had already been diagnosed with the disease. He underwent brachytherapy (also called radioactive seed implementation) for treatment. This treatment is a specialized radiation treatment where doctors place radioactive “seeds” or sources close to or inside the tumor. This allows your doctor to precisely target cancer cells while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue undamaged.
- “It’s estimated that five to ten percent of prostate cancer can run in families,” Dr. James Brooks, Chief of Urologic Oncology at Stanford Medicine, tells SurvivorNet.
- SurvivorNet experts support standard screening methods such as a digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This test measures the level of PSA in the blood, and higher levels can indicate cancer.
- SurvivorNet holds an annual Close the Gap conference to educate, spread awareness, and ultimately work to eliminate racial disparities in cancer care. Our efforts aim to ensure everyone has access to education about cancer, screening recommendations, treatment options, clinical trials, and more.
Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, 56, isn’t just a cancer survivor; he’s also a father of two daughters and a son. He’s speaking out to thank his kids for their grace while he fulfilled a career on the gridiron. He says they sacrificed some quality time with him so their dad could play ball.
“Kayla, Kiari, and Kaley, thanks for understanding when I promised to take you to the movies or the amusement park or to the mall, but because I had run myself into the ground or lifted myself into oblivion earlier that day, I didn’t do what I had promised to do the night before,” Sharpe explained to People Magazine while expressing his appreciation for his children.
Read More
“My dad died at 39. Another brother, he died in his mid-40s. The other died in his late 40s or early 50s. So, all that’s going through my mind,” he told People Magazine.
WATCH: Screen Early If Prostate Cancer Runs In Your Family
“It’s estimated that five to ten percent of prostate cancer can run in families,” says Dr. James Brooks, Chief of Urologic Oncology at Stanford Medicine.
If you have a close relative who has had prostate cancer, such as a brother or father, the risk of developing prostate cancer in your lifetime is almost double. Men with a family history tend to get prostate cancer at a younger age.
“Prostate cancer affects men of all walks of life, but it affects them differently,” says Dr. Edwin Posadas, Director of Translational Oncology and the Medical Director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai. For example, the incidence of prostate cancer in African-American men is 60 percent higher, and they are two to three times more likely to die from the disease.
This year, the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) released new cancer screening guidelines with Black men in mind.
WATCH: How to Address Racial Disparities in Cancer Care
Since Black men tend to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at younger ages compared to other racial groups, the new guidelines state Black men should consider screening at 40 years old since this demographic group is regarded as a “high-risk population.”
“Few guidelines have outlined specific recommendations for prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based prostate cancer screening among Black men,” researchers for PCF said in its report published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
“Discussions with health care providers about baseline PSA testing should begin by the time Black men are in their early 40s, and modeling data suggests prostate cancer develops 3-9 years earlier in Black men compared to their peers. Lowering the age for baseline PSA testing from 50-55 years to 40-45, followed by regular screening intervals until the age of 70, would reduce prostate cancer mortality in Black men,” the PCF said in its report.
RELATED: Black Men May Be More Susceptible To Advanced Cancer Due to Biomarkers in the DNA Study Says
SurvivorNet holds an annual Close the Gap conference to educate, spread awareness, and ultimately work to eliminate racial disparities in cancer care. Our efforts aim to ensure everyone has access to education about cancer, screening recommendations, treatment options, clinical trials, and more.
Expert Resources on Prostate Cancer Screening
- The PSA Blood Test and a Rectal Exam are Vital for Prostate Cancer Screening
- If You Have a Family History of Prostate Cancer, Get Screened Early
- Could A Urine Test Be The Future of Prostate Cancer Screening? Leading Experts Weigh In
- Father of Two Fights Prostate Cancer at the Same Time As His Father; Now He’s Spreading Prostate Cancer Awareness in the Black Community
- Staggeringly Higher Prostate Cancer Rates for Black & Latino Men
Sharpe’s Cancer Journey
Sharpe was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. His decorated career includes playing in eight Pro Bowls and multiple Super Bowls. He played for the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens before retiring in 2003. Since retirement, he’s become one of the most influential voices in sports with his “Undisputed” talk show.
When the football star’s family started being hard hit by prostate cancer, he started learning more about it. He’s since become a staunch advocate for prostate cancer screenings.
After Sharpe’s prostate cancer diagnosis, he underwent brachytherapy (also called radioactive seed implementation) for treatment.
Brachytherapy is a specialized radiation treatment where doctors place radioactive “seeds” or sources close to or inside the tumor. They use special machines to make tiny adjustments during treatment based on how the prostate moves.
This enables your doctor to precisely target cancer cells while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue undamaged.
“During a five- or 10-minute span, we can give super focused radiation actually within the prostate and direct it to the tumor,” he says. “And what this does as well is treat lesser the normal tissue because we’re treating from within and not from externally from without and not infrequently for more aggressive tumors,” NYU Langone Radiation Oncologist Dr. Michael Zelefsky tells SurvivorNet.
WATCH: Brachytherapy Explained.
Although brachytherapy limits exposure to healthy tissues, requires fewer treatment sessions, and has fewer side effects, it isn’t a viable option for all prostate cancer patients. If the cancer has spread significantly beyond its origin, this treatment may not be suitable. Some side effects may include urinary, bowel, or sexual dysfunction.
Sharpe has been declared “cancer-free” following treatment. He’s using his experience to encourage other men to undergo regular prostate cancer screenings.
@shannon84sharpe My story. #prostatecancer #cancer #nfl #football #halloffame ♬ original sound – Shannon Sharpe
“What I want to do now is break down the stigma – do not be afraid to go to the doctor,” he said.
“I can speak this. I’m not a paid actor. I lived this. I’ve been there. I can tell you this could save your life. Saved my life. I’m living proof,” Sharpe said.
More on Prostate Cancer Screening and Warning Signs
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It starts in the walnut-shaped prostate gland between the rectum and bladder, producing the fluid that nourishes sperm. Fortunately, most prostate cancer is caught with screening examinations.
When you do get screened for prostate cancer, your doctor will run a few tests.
One of the tests is the PSA test, a simple blood test that screens for prostate cancer. It looks for more significant amounts of protein-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. An elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer. It could also reflect that your prostate is enlarged, which is common, or it could signal an infection or inflammation.
Your doctor may also conduct a digital rectal exam (DRE) to check your prostate for lumps.
Depending on the results of these tests, imaging scans and a biopsy may be ordered.
WATCH: How Gleason Grade Determines Treatment
Prostate cancer does not always behave the same in every man it impacts. The cancer can be considered “low-risk” and can be slow-growing, and treatment might not be necessary. In other men, the cancer may grow faster or more aggressively, requiring more immediate treatment. Because of this, there is some debate about screening.
The United States Preventive Services Taskforce recommends men at average risk between the ages of 55-69 years old should talk with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening.
The American Cancer Society recommends that men at age 50 who are at average risk should begin screening. Men who are at high risk of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 40. Men with a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer should consider annual screenings in their 30s.
Most doctors agree that men over the age of 70 do not need screening.
SurvivorNet experts suggested that men consider factors like their family history, genes, and age when deciding whether and when to screen.
Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:
- Urinating more often
- Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
- Blood in your urine
- Trouble getting an erection
- Pain or burning when you urinate
- Pain in your back, hips, thighs, or other bones
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
