Prostate cancer awareness takes center stage at fashion show

By Paris Huynh

In the spotlight of the Blue Jacket Fashion Show, prostate cancer awareness takes center stage. Survivors like Randy Kam make their way down the runway and step forward to break the silence around men’s health.

Kam, a dedicated marathoner and prostate cancer survivor, has turned his battle into a mission to inspire awareness and action. His story is one of resilience, advocacy and hope.

In 2014, the alarming result of a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test marked the beginning of an arduous journey, including fifteen rounds of chemotherapy in one year, for Kam.

Despite the bleak diagnosis, his family became his pillar of strength.

“When I told my kids about my condition, one of them said, ‘I’ll worry when Dad worries.’ That pushed me to maintain a positive outlook.”

This determination fueled his mission to raise awareness and take charge of his health through running. Running marathons became both a personal tool for resilience and a platform for advocacy.

“Marathoning got my mindset that I’m going through this, and I feel like crap, but there’s something ahead that I’m going to get to,” he reflects. “Each step was like, ‘Okay, I’m almost there.’ That marathon mindset really helped me deal with the aches and pains of what I was going through.”

The fight against prostate cancer extends beyond individual stories like Randy’s. In an email exchange, Dr. John Shen, an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Urology at UCLA, shares his expert insights on this increasingly prevalent issue.

“Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men,” he notes. “Alarmingly, by 2050, prostate cancer is projected to have the highest estimated increase in deaths, with a 136.4% increase from 2022.”

A lack of early screenings and diagnostic opportunities compounds the severity of the issue, especially among Asian American men.

According to Dr. Shen, AAPI men are more likely to present with higher-grade and later-stage disease than White Americans due to fewer screenings and diagnostic opportunities.

Prostate cancer has grown beyond merely a health concern; it’s now a pressing social issue, intertwining with conversations around stigma and healthcare access, especially within communities of color.

“While this may not apply to everyone, there are many in the AAPI community where discussing health concerns, especially around prostate health, can be challenging due to stigma and modesty,” Dr. Shen relates to recent research. “This can limit open conversations with family, friends or even their primary care physician about screening or concerning symptoms.”

One of Kam’s biggest hurdles was the silence around prostate cancer within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

Randy dives into the reluctance of Asian Americans to be open about their health and the tendency to keep their emotions to themselves.

“You don’t show a lot of emotions. It’s a culture of stoicism, and you suffer in silence, and you don’t like bringing everybody down because you’re suffering,” he comments. “So, it’s like a weakness that they don’t want to let anybody see, but to their detriment, because what you don’t know, will kill you, and this is not a fun death.”

As prostate cancer cases sweep through the nation, health disparities remain a pressing concern. Dr. Shen highlights the obstacle of language barriers that can further hinder or block access to essential healthcare for many AAPI individuals.

“A common issue across all men, regardless of race or ethnicity, is a tendency to avoid seeing their doctor, which often delays screening and treatment,” Dr. Shen adds.

The key to improving survival rates lies in early diagnosis. Educating men about the importance of routine health checks and breaking the stigma around seeking medical care are essential steps in reducing late-stage diagnoses and improving outcomes.

“One of the best drivers of survival outcomes is diagnosing cancer earlier so treatment can begin sooner,” Dr. Shen urges. “And the best way to enable this is to have conversations- with your loved ones and with your healthcare provider- about prostate cancer.”

For Randy, starting these conversations has become a calling. He believes his journey has given him a new purpose.

“So my purpose is to, you know, get rid of that stigma and just put myself out there- that I went through this,” Kam shares.

Radiating positivity, Kam has become a pillar of inspiration in his community. He continues to run marathons, demonstrating that life doesn’t end with a diagnosis. His advocacy extends beyond physical feats; he actively engages with online forums and community groups, using his voice to educate and uplift others.

As he continues championing awareness, Kam hopes events like the Blue Jacket Fashion Show will inspire more people to prioritize their health and spark the open dialogue needed to combat prostate cancer.

The Blue Jacket Fashion made its Los Angeles (LA) Fashion Week debut on November 13th, marking a significant milestone in its mission to raise awareness.

Known for merging high fashion with health advocacy, the Johnson and Johnson-sponsored event has long been a platform for spreading critical messages about early detection and treatment, particularly in underserved communities.

By further contributing to the conversation and uplifting others’ stories, events like the Blue Jacket Fashion Show foster a community of hope and action.

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