Researchers in Cardiff are exploring whether WhatsApp group chats can help save the lives of black men at higher risk of prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Research highlights that one in four black men will be diagnosed with the disease, compared to one in eight white men and one in 13 men of other ethnicities. However, many in this group remain unaware of their heightened risk, leading to late diagnoses.
Steve Khaireh, a community worker involved in the study, explains that many black men “don’t listen to health professionals,” which is why researchers are looking for alternative ways to raise awareness. Dr. Sarah Fry, who is leading the research, is working with at-risk groups in Cardiff to assess how sharing health information via WhatsApp can impact prostate cancer screening rates.
The study follows the experience of Julian Delaney, a 73-year-old from Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan, who credits a chance conversation at a Rotary Club event in 2016 for encouraging him to get tested for prostate cancer. Julian, who had no symptoms and initially thought he was unlikely to develop the disease, was shocked to learn he had prostate cancer. “When people tell you you’ve got prostate cancer it terrifies you,” he recalls. However, after researching his options and seeking advice, Julian opted for surgery to remove his prostate and has been cancer-free ever since.
Julian’s experience motivated him to encourage his three brothers to get tested, even intervening when one brother was advised by a doctor not to seek testing. “It’s a lack of knowledge in a lot of cases,” Julian says, pointing out that men often don’t know what questions to ask or what information they need.
Dr. Fry’s study stems from her time as a research nurse at Velindre Cancer Centre, where she noticed a lack of black men in the clinic. This insight, along with her previous research, suggests that health messages shared by friends or community leaders resonate more with men than advice from healthcare professionals. Her pilot project, funded by Cancer Research UK, aims to test the effectiveness of WhatsApp group chats in encouraging men to get tested.
The pilot will involve community leaders, such as Khaireh, who will organize the WhatsApp groups. Khaireh emphasizes the importance of communicating in a way that resonates with the local community. “Most health professionals speak proper Queen’s English, but in our community, there are a variety of slang languages and street terms that make the message more relatable,” he says.
If the pilot proves successful, researchers hope to expand the project and integrate it into a national prostate cancer screening program. The core message remains simple, Khaireh adds: “If you’re over 50, get tested. Simple.”
