Prostate cancer is twice as likely to be fatal in African American men than in Caucasian men (DiIorio, 2011). This would be another difference for how each of the men receive the diagnosis. Chris understands that if he receives prostate cancer, it does not prove to be as fatal for him, as it is for his African American counterpart (DiIorio, 2011). Leroy knows that the diagnosis of prostate cancer is more likely to impact him, therefore his reception of it would differ from Chris’s. Chis and Leroy are both middle aged. For them both to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their 40’s can be seen as out of the norm. 65% of cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in men over the age of 65 (DiIorio, 2011). Statistically speaking, both Chris …show more content…
Many African American men are hesitant to work alongside social workers in this area, because of the cost of treatment (Ahaghotu, 2015). The cost of treatment is extremely expensive, and can be life altering for African American males with prostate cancer (Ahaghotu, 2015). This is a large issue that is impacting direct practice with this population. These clients are aware of how much each visit is to see the healthcare team. The rising costs are constantly on their mind with each visit. This is why African American men choose to seek help from their faith organizations, because its free (Maliski, 2010). To overcome this issue, social workers should be aware of the client’s socioeconomic status (Ahaghotu, 2015). If the social worker is aware of the status of the client, then the client can be better served. The social worker should know if the client needs medical referrals to lower cost clinics. The social worker should also be aware of the insurance status of the client (Ahaghotu, 2015). Being aware of these factors will help overcome the cost of treatment. By overcoming the issue of cost, the social worker can better serve the