Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is an invasive cancer that starts in the prostate, an organ within the typical male reproductive system.¹ The prostate surrounds the urethra and produces fluid that, together with testicular sperm cells and other glandular fluids, makes up semen.¹ The prostate is approximately the size of a walnut and is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum.¹ Prostate cancer is not the same as benign prostatic hyperplasia, which refers to the natural growth of the prostate as someone ages.¹

This health awareness social media toolkit can help your cancer control organizations implement evidence-based practices when communicating about prostate cancer.

Data and Statistics

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed invasive cancer among patients assigned male at birth.² Approximately 100 per 100,000 patients with male reproductive organs get prostate cancer.² In addition, prostate cancer is the second-most deadly cancer for patients assigned male at birth across all races and ethnicities.² Prostate cancer usually occurs in patients aged 65 and older, while cases in those below age 40 are more rare.³ However, survival rates are high for prostate cancer at the localized stage. For all stages of prostate cancer, 96% of patients are still alive five years after diagnosis.¹ For men with prostate cancer that has progressed to a distant stage (also known as metastatic prostate cancer), only 34% survive five years after diagnosis.

Treatment options for prostate cancer include surgery, radiation and active surveillance, where the prostate cancer is monitored until there is evidence of cancer progression, at which time treatment may be considered with surgery or radiation.⁴ About 60% of individuals with low-risk prostate cancer are now managed with active surveillance.⁵

Best Practices for Communicating About Prostate Cancer

Address populations that are at higher risk for prostate cancer

1. Highlight that prostate cancer can be categorized as low-risk, intermediate risk and/or high-risk, based on stage, grading and prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, a blood test used to screen for prostate cancer.⁶ These risk groups are important for deciding whether a person can be managed with active surveillance. Furthermore, PSA-based prostate cancer screening is recommended alongside shared decision-making with patients.⁷
2. Encourage providers to recommend screenings for patients with a family history of prostate cancer, since they may be at a greater risk for developing prostate cancer.⁸
   1. A family history of prostate cancer includes: (1) people with one brother or father or two or more male relatives with one of the following: (a) diagnosed with prostate cancer at age <60 years; (b) any of whom died of prostate cancer; (c) any of whom had metastatic prostate cancer, (2) Family history of other cancers with two or more cancers in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome or Lynch syndrome spectrum.⁹
3. Highlight health disparities in cancer incidence and mortality rates among Black and Hispanic people. See “Communicating with Diverse Audiences” below for evidence-based recommendations and sample messages for both Black and Hispanic patients.
4. Honor LGBTQI+ patients’ needs while promoting awareness of risks that are specific to transgender individuals. See “Communicating with Diverse Audiences” below for evidence-based recommendations and sample messages for LGBTQI+ patients.
5. Acknowledge that risk for prostate cancer increases as a patient ages.⁸ See “Communicating with Diverse Audiences” below for evidence-based recommendations and sample messages for populations of varying ages.

Tailor your messages to your intended audience

1. Share information in an approachable way with simple wording fit for an eighth-grade reading level,¹⁰ as older people, those with low income or low education, and immigrant or ethnic/racial minority groups may exhibit lower health literacy, which can contribute to poorer health outcomes.^11,12
2. Customize your messages and images to your intended audience using tools like Make it Your Own (MIYO). Prostate cancer can potentially be misunderstood and stigmatized among Black and Hispanic patients.¹³ Address misperceptions via culturally relevant approaches.

Share risk-reducing options

1. Emphasize that cancer risk reduction is necessary due to a growing and aging U.S. population. By 2050, the total number of new cancer cases is predicted to increase by almost 50%.¹⁴ Prostate cancer is projected to remain one of the top four leading cancers in 2050.¹⁴
2. Share messaging that recommends tailored dietary practices for prostate cancer survivors. While more research is needed to determine direct links between diet and prostate cancer risk, some studies suggest that diets high in saturated fat, calcium, and dairy intake are associated with increased cancer risk.¹⁵
3. Remind providers to emphasize the importance of physical activity as part of long-term survivorship care plans. Research shows that physical activity can not only alleviate symptoms like fatigue and depression in cancer survivors, but that at least three hours of exercise per week is also associated with a 61% decrease in prostate cancer mortality.¹⁶

Promote self-advocacy and participation in decision-making

1. Engage patients in championing their own health. Encourage providers to share toolkits and resources with their patients, especially materials that can be printed and taken to appointments.
2. Share information about prostate cancer symptoms to increase patient awareness, self-monitoring and proactive behaviors. Early detection of prostate cancer can allow for timely treatment and reduce risk of death.¹⁷
3. Share messages that encourage discussion of PSA testing and screening options, particularly with individuals aged 50 years or older. Data from the Health Information National Trends survey found limited communication between patients and providers about prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and treatment.¹⁸

Encourage health system improvements to survivorship care and resources

1. Encourage conversations about fertility and family planning by sharing information and resources providers can share with patients. Cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy can cause short- or long-term impairments in male reproductive organs.¹⁹ Surgeries such as prostatectomy often involve the removal of both the prostate gland and seminal vesicles; therefore, patients cannot produce sperm or ejaculate.²⁰
2. Make providers aware of resources that can help survivors monitor their health following treatment. Studies indicate that prostate cancer survivors can benefit from personalized health and activity plans provided by digital health technology such as activity trackers.²¹ Clinical trials can also benefit from the collection of this passive data, which can be difficult to collect from observation alone.²¹
3. Share messages with long- and short-term side effects of prostate cancer treatments and symptom-management resources that patients can consider. Some patients report a lack of information on symptom awareness and management as their survivorship needs evolve.¹⁶ Combine these messages with relevant support services wherever possible.
4. Provide financial support resources and/or financial navigation as several cancer treatment medications used to treat late-stage prostate cancer can be relatively expensive.²²

Refer prostate cancer patients to clinical trials

1. Although prostate cancer survivors account for 20% of the survivorship population, prostate cancer and prostate cancer survivors are the subjects of only 5% of research.²³ Messages that remind providers to engage survivors in clinical research can help to address this gap.

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Communicating with Diverse Audiences

Communication-related issues may also play a role in cancer disparities.²⁴ Consider the information most useful to each diverse group (see below for specific messaging and read more on health disparities here). Tailor communication to these populations of focus with messages that also address conditions where these communities live, learn, work and play, as these social determinants of health can impact a wide range of health risks and outcomes. To ensure messages resonate with the coalition’s intended audience, we also recommend referring to the National Networks’ existing resources and adapting messages to reflect individuals with lived experiences.

Black/African American

• Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, Black persons are the most likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Age-adjusted data up to 2020 showed 155 new prostate cancer cases among Black patients versus 95 new cases among White patients per 100,000. Moreover, Black patients are more likely to die from prostate cancer than non-Hispanic White patients.² Draw attention to these health disparities in messages and promote tailored efforts to increase screenings and symptom awareness for Black persons.
• Black persons are diagnosed with prostate cancer at younger ages and experience higher rates of advanced prostate cancer.⁸ Share messages that encourage providers to assess risk of prostate cancer for Black persons, particularly those with a family history of prostate cancer, to better inform screening timelines.

LGBTQI+

• LGBTQI+ patients and survivors report fears of social stigma as well as experiencing stigma within health care settings.²⁵ Create messages that help health providers recognize and overcome implicit bias when communicating with patients with prostate cancer. This may help to reduce stigma and to foster trust and honesty.
• Transgender people with male reproductive organs have varying risk levels based on their history with gender-affirming surgery (GAS) and gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT).²⁶ Patients who have not undergone GAS or begun GAHT have the same risk levels as cisgender patients with male reproductive organs.²⁶ However, patients with a history of GAS or GAHT are less likely to get prostate cancer than their age-matched cis-male counterparts.²⁶ Share these trends in your messaging to providers.
• Research shows no correlation between anal sex and increased risk of prostate cancer.²⁷ However, removal or damage of the prostate due to cancer treatment may affect a patient’s sexual function and/or desire. If appropriate, connect LGBTQI+ patients with sex therapists or support groups to discuss these potential changes. The GW Cancer Center’s Living with Prostate Cancer guide contains more information on adapting one’s sex life and other changes after treatment.

Hispanic/Latinx/o/a

• Children of Hispanic parents who identify as a prostate cancer survivor are more likely to understand their own increased risk for prostate cancer and desire information and support from their parents.²⁸ However, cultural taboos surrounding discussions of sex and intimacy between parents and children often discourage conversations on prostate cancer screening and risk.²⁸ Share messages that encourage healthcare professionals to encourage Hispanic parents who are prostate cancer survivors to serve as mentors for their own families. Messages can also empower providers to share cancer screening and risk information to Hispanic children.²⁸

AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander)

• Prostate cancer is the leading cancer diagnosis among AANHPI men (50 cases per 100,000).²
• Although some studies indicate lower incidence of prostate cancer among AANHPI persons compared to other racial/ethnic groups,²⁹ there is limited research available that disaggregates AANHPI into further subgroups, which demonstrate varying levels of risk when studied independently.³⁰ For example, Hmong patients have a higher risk of disease when compared to Chinese patients.³⁰
• AANHPI subgroups also vary in their rates of receiving treatment and having their health actively surveilled.³⁰ For example, Kampuchean patients are less likely to receive treatment than Hmong or Hawaiian patients.³⁰ Avoid messaging that aggregates these demographics. Instead, share data and recommendations tailored to a clearly stated subgroup. Providers can also engage AANHPI patients in future research that assesses prostate cancer risks among the many different subgroups.

AI/AN (American Indian/Alaska Native)

• Compared to Black persons, White persons, and Asian Americans, AI/AN individuals experience the highest rates of late-stage prostate cancer and cancer mortality. However, they are less likely to receive optimal treatment, which may be due to reduced access to specialty care in certain areas.³¹ Use this data in messages to promote screenings within this community. Providers can also share virtual health options for AI/AN persons residing in rural areas.

Age-based messaging

• Share age-appropriate screening information, as age is the most common risk factor in getting prostate cancer.⁸ Patients between 55-69 should talk with their provider to determine if screening is right for them. Screening for patients older than 70 is not recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.³²

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Prostate Cancer Messages and Graphics

Download All Messages and Graphics How to Post on Social Media

Topics	Suggested Images
Topic: Resources for newly diagnosed patients Patients newly diagnosed with #prostatecancer will have questions—about treatment,  symptoms, getting second opinions, and more. This guide from @ZEROCancer can help your patients find answers and peace of mind. ​https://bit.ly/2D7UsOa #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate
Topic: Share information about prostate cancer symptoms Prostate cancer can present differently in many people, while some may not experience symptoms at all. These signs do not always indicate #prostatecancer, but patients experiencing these symptoms should alert their provider and ask if prostate cancer screening is right for them. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate
Topic: Engage patients in creating a survivorship care plan Some patients with #prostatecancer may want to be involved in forming their survivorship care plan and recording their treatment progress. This downloadable care summary and survivorship plan template by @ASCO can help your patients feel empowered and prepared. https://bit.ly/3BefrNg #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate #cancersurvivor
Topic: Share prostate cancer resources that patients can use to guide conversations with their providers Before your patients can get the answers they need, they have to know which questions to ask. Share @CDC_Cancer’s prostate health tips, which includes guidelines for a thorough conversation with care providers.https://bit.ly/42nWiEv #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate #prostatecancer
Topic: Share information about prostate cancer health disparities for Black patients Not only do Black individuals experience a higher incidence of #prostatecancer, but they also experience higher mortality rates. Be sure to conduct risk assessments for Black individuals, remind them to keep up with screenings and engage them in clinical trials to improve the standard of care. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate #blackhealth
Topic: Share information on family history A family history of #prostatecancer is considered an indicator of greater prostate cancer risk—but what does family history mean? @AmerUrological explains that while there’s no standard definition, several common criteria can be used to determine family history. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate
Topic: Provide education on long-term side effects of treatments Do your patients know what symptoms to expect as a result of #prostatecancer treatments? Talk to your patients and help them manage these symptoms. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate
Topic: Empowering Hispanic parents who are prostate cancer survivors to share information with their children Research shows that Hispanic adolescents and young adults want firsthand information to help them understand their cancer risks, particularly from their parents. Encourage Hispanic #prostatecancer survivors with children to share their experiences with family. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate #hispaniccancer #hispanichealth
Topic: Address fertility risks caused by prostate cancer treatment and provide resources for fertility preservation Treatments for #prostatecancer can affect a patient’s fertility both in the short and long term. It’s important to discuss fertility preservation and family planning options with patients before beginning chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or hormone therapy. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate #cancerfertility
Topic: Promote risk-reducing behaviors and practices Healthy behaviors and diets can decrease the risk of getting #prostatecancer, and they can also improve treatment recovery and lower the chances of cancer recurrence. Share these tips with patients looking for ways to be proactive about their prostate cancer risk. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate
Topic: Tips for caring for LGBTQI+ patients Caring for LGBTQI+ patients requires knowing how to communicate respectfully and making them feel at ease. When engaging patients with #prostatecancer, remember these strategies from the @cancerLGBT for creating a welcoming environment. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate #lgbtcancer
Topic: Tips for caring for transgender patients How you engage transgender patients with #prostatecancer could play a critical role in whether they continue to seek necessary health screenings and treatments. Consider these recommendations for transgender inclusivity from the @cancerLGBT. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate #lgbtcancer #transhealth
Topic: Prostate cancer risks for transgender patients Transgender patients with a prostate gland who have not undergone gender-affirming surgery or gender-affirming hormone therapy have the same #prostatecancer risks as cisgender male patients. Make sure transgender patients are aware of these risks. This @CDC_Cancer guide details factors most linked with prostate cancer incidence. https://tinyurl.com/5592mxb2 #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate #lgbtcancer #transhealth
Topic: Support groups for prostate cancer patient and survivors Looking for support groups that can help your patients with #prostatecancer navigate diagnosis, treatment and survivorship? @ThePCRI maintains a list of support resources organized by state.https://bit.ly/41kwYhn #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate
Topic: Referring patients to clinical trials Enrolling your patients with #prostatecancer in clinical trials is one of the best ways to continually improve the standard of care. @PCFnews has an active study database that can help you find appropriate trials for your patients. https://bit.ly/3MguKLF #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate #cancertrials
Topic: Make providers aware of disparities in risk and treatment for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Island (AANHPI) patients #DidYouKnow that #AANHPI subgroups have different risk levels for #prostatecancer and differ in rates of treatment and surveillance? Tailoring communications, discussions of risk, and treatment and surveillance outreach according to these disparities could help to improve health outcomes for high-risk patients. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate #aanhpicancer #aanhpihealth
Topic: Policy Systems Environment (PSE) change Healthy eating is an important part of #prostatecancer risk-reduction. However, barriers such as food insecurity may make it challenging to follow healthy habits. Learn how emergency food organizations in @KingCountyWA partnered with public health and university-based partners to increase the amount of nutritious food distributed at food pantries: https://bit.ly/3BNcJyn #cctprostate #cdc #dcpc #healthyeating #PSEchange
Topic: Different risk groups for prostate cancer Unlike cancers that are classified by the staging system (Stages 1-4), #prostatecancer uses a risk grouping scheme based on PSA, Gleason score, and tumor stage. @PCFNews recommends using these determinants to identify a patient’s general risk group so you can give more personalized care. #cdc #dcpc #cctprostate

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Download All Messages and Graphics How to Post on Social Media

How to Post to Social Media

Start by downloading the ZIP file above. Then double click the downloaded file to unzip and open the folder. Inside, you’ll find four CSV files.

• Messaging.csv contains captions for all messages in the toolkit, organized by topic.
• Bulk - Instagram.csv contains captions for all Instagram messages, along with graphics URLs that can be used to bulk schedule both text and images.
• Bulk - LinkedIn-Facebook-Twitter.csv contains captions for all LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter messages, along with graphics URLs that can be used to bulk schedule both text and images.
• Bulk - Twitter.csv contains captions for all Twitter messages, along with graphics URLs that can be used to bulk schedule both text and images.

Inside the main folder, you’ll also see two sub-folders containing the messaging graphics for all major platforms. The first folder contains rectangular images suited for use on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The second folder contains square images suited for Instagram.

Select your platform below for additional instructions.

Facebook

1. Download the suggested graphic.
2. Highlight the corresponding message with your cursor. Right click and select “Copy.”
3. Open Facebook. If you aren’t already logged in, enter your email address (or phone number) and password, then tap “Log in.”
4. Tap the post box. This box is at the top of the News Feed. If you're posting to a group, you’ll find the box just below the cover photo. There will generally be a phrase like “Write something”or “What’s on your mind?” in the box.
5. Tap “Photo/Video” near the middle of the post screen, then select the downloaded graphic to upload and tap “Done.” Doing so adds the photo to your post.
6. Tap “Post.” It’s in the top-right corner of the screen from the app, or the bottom-right from your computer. Doing so will create your post and add it to the page you’re on.

Twitter

1. Download the suggested graphic.
2. Highlight the corresponding message with your cursor. Right click and select “Copy.”
3. Open Twitter. If you aren’t already logged in, enter your email address and password, then tap “Log in.”
4. Tap the post button. This button is at the bottom right of the News Feed. There will generally be a phrase like “What’s happening?” in the box.
5. Tap the camera icon near the middle of the post screen, or the picture icon in the bottom left of the post screen then select the downloaded graphic to upload, and add the post caption.
6. Tap “Tweet.” It’s in the top-right corner of the screen from the app, or the bottom-right from your computer. Doing so will create your post and add it to the page you’re on.

Instagram

1. Download the suggested graphic.
2. Highlight the corresponding message with your cursor. Right click and select “Copy.”
3. Open Instagram. If you aren’t already logged in, enter your username (or phone number) and password, then tap “Log in.”
4. Tap the plus sign box. This box is at the top right. Select the downloaded graphic or drag it into the box to upload it.
5. Select “Square (1:1)” for the aspect ratio, then click “Next.”
6. Ignore the filters screen, then click “Next” again.
7. Paste the caption where it says, “Write a caption…” at the top.
8. Under “Accessibility,” consider adding alt text to describe the photo for people with visual impairments.
9. Tap “Share.” It's in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

LinkedIn

1. Download the suggested graphic.
2. Highlight the corresponding message with your cursor. Right click and select “Copy.”
3. Open LinkedIn. If you aren’t already logged in, enter your email address and password, then tap “Log in.”
4. Tap “Start a post” from the main share box. This box is at the top of your profile.
5. Tap “Photo” from the top of the post screen, then select the downloaded graphic to upload and tap “Done.” Doing so adds the photo to your post.
6. Tap “Post.” It's in the the bottom-right. Doing so will create your post and add it to the page you’re on.

Bulk Scheduling

Social media management tools like Hootsuite and Sprout Social offer bulk scheduling options for uploading multiple messages at once. The spreadsheets included in the download can be adapted to fit multiple scheduling platforms or services. They are currently formatted to work with Sprout Social’s bulk scheduling option. Please review the bulk scheduling format requirements for your specific platform before posting. Messages are sorted by network.

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Prostate Cancer Resources

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References

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