Self-Care for Black Men: Prostate Cancer Health Screenings

In this series of posts, I will cover topics specifically to help Black men embrace better health and wellness. My book, Self-Care for Black Men is available for purchase and you can find more information about it at this link.

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When it comes to prostate cancer, Black men tend to be more vulnerable than their white counterparts. There is a racial disparity in prostate cancer rates which has been consistently observed over time. While there are many factors that contribute to the prevalence of prostate cancer, Black men seem to be at higher risk, and at younger ages. This means Black men should be particularly mindful of their risk and self-advocating for routine screenings.

A Difference in Mortality Rates

Unfortunately, not only are Black men more likely to develop prostate cancer, but they also have a higher mortality rate from the disease (than white peers). This is, in part, due to delayed screenings and late-stage diagnosis. The reasons for this delay are likely due to a lack of awareness of the need for early screening, as well as difficulty finding competent providers due to lack of insurance coverage or the prohibitive cost of care. Nonetheless, Black men should be particularly cautious of their risk early, especially if there is a family history.

The Role of Genetics

Black men need to be conscious of family history of prostate cancer risk. There is some research that suggests genetics may also play a significant role in Black men's increased susceptibility to prostate cancer. Many genetic mutations have been found to occur at a higher rate in Black men and contribute to greater, and more aggressive, risk or early onset. Ongoing research will, no doubt, continue to identify risk factors specific to Black men. Furthermore, not only can these mutations increase the risk of developing prostate cancer, they may also complicate the treatment process, making early identification and intervention key for treatment success.

The Power of Prevention

Given the increased risk and mortality rate, early detection of prostate cancer is a particularly effective, and important, strategy for Black men. In most instances, screening is completed by blood test and/or a rectal exam in office. Current screening recommendations state that men should start getting screened for prostate cancer at the age of 50 and then every 3-5 years thereafter (if not otherwise indicated). However, it may also be advisable that due to the higher risk faced by Black men, regular screenings at earlier ages might also be a helpful strategy.

To learn more about prostate cancer risk in Black men, read this post from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Shadow Work: Demystifying the Helpful, but Arduous 3 Stage Process

*This post contains an affiliate link.

In an earlier post,  I wrote about what every beginner should know about shadow work. Today, I want to take it a step further and detail what I think are three main stages of shadow work.

The goal of shadow work is to make the unconscious conscious. You are able to make that connection through consistent effort in reflecting more deeply through practices such as shadow work journal prompts, trauma-informed grounding, and affirmations for self-compassion. The last bit is particularly important as shadow work typically involves contact with less desirable parts of yourself - and, of course, that doesn't always bring out the most hopeful thoughts and feelings for us.

Ultimately, shadow work has a lot of personal value and the goal is to heal parts of yourself that you didn't realize needed healing. Shadow work also helps you work to accept all parts of you because they are, well, part of what makes you YOU.

I think of shadow work as occurring in three main parts: detachment, exploration or growth, and integration.

3 stages of shadow work graphic jorel caraballo

Detachment

Detachment is a stage, or a state, of being disconnected from one's self and experiences. With respect to shadow work, this doesn't just involve being disconnected from feelings in any particular moment in your day, but more so being detached generally from your deep-seated feelings and worries. In my experience, this means also being detached (or often minimizing) the hurt you've experienced throughout different parts of your life.

If you ignore your pain you also miss an opportunity for relief and healing. You can’t heal what doesn’t hurt.

Detachment usually offers you the ability to not feel all the things you don't want to feel. It also affords you the ability of not disrupting the ways in which you like to see yourself, as is often necessary in shadow work.

This is the stage before any actual shadow work begins. It is usually the space we occupy most often and it often feels like discomfort and confusion about your own motivations and reactions. You may realize something isn't quite right but you're not sure what it is or how to go about addressing your concerns.

Exploration

This stage of shadow work is the first active stage of "work." Simply put, this is the work of reflecting more deeply, delving into your memories and making space for unconscious material to come up.

A shadow work workbook will help you by typically offering meditations and journal prompts to dig more deeply. Like most personal development work, it can ebb and flow depending on your capacity and other things going on in your life, and how you prioritize this kind of work.

In this stage you're like to experience a range of emotions like joy and relief, as well as sadness and grief. This stage is all about revealing deeper truths and making important psychological (and/or spiritual) connections. You are likely to learn a great deal about yourself and start to see a clear path towards self-acceptance and healing. That being said, this phase is often very tough to work through, as you might imagine.

Integration

This final stage is all about working to integrate the emotional material revealed in the exploration stage. This means finding a way to apply what you've learned in your reflections into everyday life.

For example, if you were able to learn about your pattern of feeling helpless, integration would look like implementing new ways to use your personal power or agency in situations in your life. That might sound like learning to set boundaries with loved ones or work, for example. Integration could also look like forgiving yourself for past mistakes and learning to live alongside your guilt without letting it completely derail your sense of self. You may adopt a practice of self-compassion to help you work on that. Any of these things can be worked on solo or with the help of a licensed therapist.

When you're in this stage, it can also feel surprisingly tough to adjust to the changes you're making in your life. You will have to deal with how your changes also impact those around you. The really great news is that you will feel a greater sense of ease and inner peace as you accept your imperfection.

I hope this provides some important clarity on what shadow work is and what to expect in the process.

You can learn more by connecting with me on Instagram @jorelcaraballo.

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FAQ: What is shadow work?

Shadow work is the process of making the unconscious conscious. It was coined by Carl Jung to help promote internal self-awareness and acceptance.

Rethinking Coping Skills on the Mood Ring Podcast

Do you ever struggle with guilt after using a coping strategy? If so, you're not alone.

I was able to join host Anna Borges on her podcast, Mood Ring, to talk about out sh*tty coping mechanisms and offered some tips on managing guilt and coping in ways that work best for you.

Listen to the episode below!

I'm writing a book!

One of the things that I like most about my job as a therapist is my ability to help people. This is a family value that was passed down in action, not just words, that I try to embody as much as I can. Most days, helping often looks like helping clients learn more about themselves, and helping them to understand what motivates and encourages them. Helping also means supporting clients to learn what hurts them and how that pain influences their life choices. Ultimately, the goal is to help the people I work with feel better within themselves and feel empowered to live the life they wish to have.

This is probably the thing I LIKE MOST about being a therapist.⁠ ⁠ One thing I really DON’T LIKE about therapy is that my ability to reach people is limited by how much time I have in the day. And what is likely unsurprising to those of you reading this, there never seems to be enough time, or energy, to reach all the people I’d like to support and talk to.⁠ ⁠

picture of Jor-El Caraballo writing a book at a table outdoors

This is what writing a book looks like, but with a lot less smiling

Fortunately, for me this is changing!

I’m really excited to announce that I’ll get to share some practical advice in my book The Shadow Work Workbook out September 2022 from Adams Media (Simon and Schuster)!.⁠

This workbook will provide a path for deeper self-reflection with topic based entries and journal prompts. It will also include exercises for grounding and affirmations to help you embrace self-care and self-compassion as you do the hard work of connecting with your hidden shadow side to heal.⁠ ⁠ I’ve always wanted to write something that brings together my personal knowledge and professional experiences to reach a lot more people and I think that The Shadow Work Workbook will do just that.⁠ ⁠

And, I’m just really EXCITED for you all to see it. You can click this link to order now!