How One Black Man’s Cancer Battle Inspired His Activism

Derrick Butts was 53 decades outdated when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Subsequent his thriving therapy, he teamed up with his father and fellow prostate most cancers survivor, Thomas, to publish about their experiences battling the illness. Prostate Most cancers: A Spouse and children Affair, published in 2019, told the tale of 3 generations of prostate most cancers (Derrick’s grandfather, Thomas Butts, Sr. passed away from the disorder in 1995) and two generations of survivors. Derrick and his father have been intent on sharing how they amplified their prospects for longevity publish-surgical procedure and to have a high-quality-of-everyday living soon after prostate cancer.

Derrick has continued his advocacy as co-founder of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Alliance-DMV, a Washington, D.C.-spot nonprofit built to reach nearby men with proactive prostate cancer instruction. He spoke to Black Wellness Matters about his prostate most cancers journey and serving as a useful resource for other Black men working with the sickness.

Black Overall health Issues: How were being you very first identified with prostate most cancers?

Derrick Butts: I have a relatives historical past my father, grandfather, and uncle all experienced prostate most cancers. Because of that, I experienced been tracking my prostate well being considering the fact that I was 38. In 2015, I observed my PSA rose from 3.32 to 4.32. But I experienced no aspect effects—I was asymptomatic. Simply because I had been receiving my PSA checked annually, the rise brought about me to get a biopsy, but the very first health care provider did not give me a very clear indication of anything at all. A second medical doctor didn’t give a distinct remedy possibly but sent me to a professional at the Countrywide Institutes of Wellness (NIH). That was the very first indicator that I experienced prostate cancer. Getting diagnosed took seven months.

Black Wellness Issues: Why is it so challenging for Black males to get identified?

Derrick Butts: I operate into adult men who are not often likely to the medical doctor mainly because they never have insurance policies or really do not feel the require to proactively test their PSA for the reason that they’re not suffering from any ache or signs and symptoms. All those who do see a health care provider are generally advised they really don’t need a PSA because they’re not aged enough—and these doctors say that with no even realizing the person’s spouse and children background.

Black Health Matters: What led to the launch of your nonprofit?

Derrick Butts: I noticed there was a genuine require here for education and learning. We begun the nonprofit to provide prostate cancer support, share companies, discuss therapies/systems for all those in the DC Maryland-Virginia spot, and share prostate most cancers survivor tales. A large amount of gentlemen, for instance, didn’t know they could go to diverse medical facilities in the place like Howard University Hospital, INOVA, George Washington College Clinic, or Johns Hopkins Healthcare Center. We then identified that individuals outdoors the DMV have been attending our virtual occasions to question about expert services and most cancers support in which they are living. So now we’re looking to carry our guidance model to other underserved areas with a significant concentration of Black adult men with prostate most cancers.

Black Health and fitness Issues: What advice do you give to men who are newly diagnosed?

Derrick Butts: I talk to 2-3 gentlemen a 7 days who have been newly diagnosed—it’s ordinarily for the reason that they saw me on a webinar. The very first questions I ask are, what is your PSA stage, and do you have a family members history? That data lets me know how or if they have believed about their prostate cancer journey. I also discuss cure choices and where they can go for a second view. If they’re married, I inform them to make confident they have an in-depth dialogue with their wife, husband or wife, or partner. This expertise will come to feel like a roller coaster, so it’s essential to have a cheerleader to guidance you on this journey. No a single should ever navigate a most cancers journey by yourself.

Black Health and fitness Issues: What does this do the job signify to you as a survivor?

Derrick Butts: If you glance at stats, 1 in 8 gentlemen will be diagnosed with prostate most cancers. If you are Black, it’s 1 in 5. When you start out giving individuals quantities [in terms of the prevalence of prostate cancer in Black men, particularly those with a family history], it truly hits residence that it’s significant to know their PSA numbers and get in advance of this condition. Each and every male is going to be identified at a distinct stage, and our aim is help them to catch prostate cancer early. I hope to share my and other men’s tales to let them know there is lifestyle soon after prostate most cancers.

Derrick A. Butts pictured with his father, Thomas A. Butts.