Prostate cancer (PC) is a major health problem for American black males. Blacks experience higher PC incidence and mortality compared to whites. Although the racial difference in PC incidence remains unexplained, the difference in PC mortality has been largely attributed to the late stage of disease at presentation. By using the incidence data on District of Columbia residents, this study compares the stage at diagnosis between black men and white men and attempts to determine if observed differences may be attributed to socioeconomic status (SES).

Reporting facilities staged PC using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results summary staging scheme. Averages of high school education, income, and home ownership at the census tract level were used as proxies for SES, and frequency distributions were reported. Data were stratified based on stage to examine the influence of race and SES on stage.

For 1987 to 1991, 980 men (median age, 71 years) were reportedly diagnosed with PC. Black patients are younger and prostate tumors appear more likely to be more aggressive among blacks than whites. SES is negatively associated with late stage PC, and currently married men, compared with previously married, are less likely to be diagnosed with metastatic PC. Black men are more likely to present with later stage disease, and this racial difference persists even when SES is controlled.

Late stage diagnosis is associated with favorable SES indicators. But substantial racial gradients in the distribution of diagnostic stage persisted even after adjustment for SES. This suggests the need for more intensive efforts to address issues related to access, quality, and utilization of cancer screening services as they pertain to all African-American men in the District of Columbia irrespective of their social status.