Minorities and Health: Why Risks are Higher For Some Urinary Conditions

Regardless of what we look like on the outside, we all have pretty much the same features inside. Yet when it comes to urinary health, people of color in the U.S. suffer at least four medical conditions at higher or more deadly rates than others. These conditions are testicular cancer, kidney disease, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer.  

Unfortunately, this trend is in keeping with a broader health analysis of the U.S. population. Life expectancies among Blacks/African Americans and American Indians/Alaska Natives are lower than among Whites, and death rates among Black/African American people are generally higher when it comes to heart disease, cancer, stroke, asthma, diabetes, and pneumonia, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health reports.

Further, young Black Americans are living with or dying from many conditions usually found in White Americans at older ages, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also reports that Hispanics/Latinos are 50% more likely to die from diabetes or liver disease. And Asian Americans have a high prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and liver disease.

The first step to improved health among these populations is prevention, which requires both knowledge and timing.

The 4 High-Risk Urinary Conditions for Minorities

Following are the urinary conditions that tend to occur at higher rates among minorities, as well as the genetic and social factors that contribute. With this understanding, we can help ourselves, and those important to us, offset the risks.

Testicular Cancer

While testicular cancer is more likely to develop in White men than most other races, its mortality rates are higher in non-White ethnicities. The five-year overall survival rate among Black/African American men in the “regional” stage of cancer (cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes, tissues, or organs) is 87.7%, compared with 95.3% for White men. The survival rate is 91% among those of Asian descent, and 94.5% for Hispanic/Latinos, according to 2020 research (most recent).

Some researchers contribute the higher mortality rates for Black/African American men to late detection. However, genetic disorders, family history, and environmental factors contribute. Leading symptoms include pain or a heavy feeling in the testicles and changes in their shape and/or size.

Kidney Cancer

Kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are damaged and as a result can no longer filter blood effectively. Black Americans are more than three times as likely as Whites to experience kidney failure. Latinos are 1.3 times more likely, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Among Asian Americans, the rates of kidney failure caused by diabetes have doubled within the ages of 30 to 39 from 2000 to 2010 (the Foundation’s most recent figure). Additionally, some research indicates chronic kidney disease is slightly higher among women than men.

Researchers theorize that incidents of the disease are linked to higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Access to healthcare may also play a role.

Indicators of kidney disease include swelling in the legs, loss of appetite, metallic taste to foods, unclear thinking, and decreased urination or urinating only at night. 

Advanced Bladder Cancer

Black/African America men are more likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer when it is in later stages. This can contribute to lower survival rates. Overall, the five-year survival rate for anyone with bladder cancer is about 78% according to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, but it rises to 96% for non-muscle invasive cases and drops sharply when the cancer spreads beyond the bladder.

The leading cause of bladder cancer is smoking, which is higher among Black/African American men than White men (21% vs. 17%). However, a lack of access to healthcare also could prevent Black/African American men from seeking a diagnosis and treatment. Indicators of the disease include blood in the urine and painful urination.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is more prevalent among Black/African American men than any other race or ethnic groups. One in six will be diagnosed with the disease in his lifetime, and Black/African American men are twice as likely to die from the disease than men of other races. Among Hispanic/Latino men, prostate cancer accounts for 40% of new cancer diagnoses, and incidents of advanced disease appear to be on the rise. Asian American men – Chinese American men in particular – are at lower risk.

Genetic mutations contribute to higher risks of developing prostate cancer, as do poor nutrition, smoking, and lack of activity. Higher mortality rates could be due, in part, to late diagnoses. Symptoms include frequent urination (especially at night), a weak urine flow, and blood in the urine.

What’s Better Than Early Detection? Prevention

If you or someone you care about is experiencing symptoms of any of the above diseases, you could prevent it from getting worse by seeing a doctor and getting tested. Make an appointment here.