Jackson E. Fowler, Jr, MD

The article by Powell highlights uncertainties about the relative contributions of diagnostic delay and tumor biology to racial disparities in stage at diagnosis among American men with prostate cancer, and explores a variety of factors that may discourage early cancer detection in African-American men. Observations derived from our ongoing prospective studies of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment outcomes in black and white American veterans and from our experience with prostate cancer screening at the University of Mississippi Hospital and Clinics afford additional insights into these issues and provide a framework for this commentary.