It shouldn’t be a surprise to any of us, but there is a massive health care disparity between genders in the U.S., a new study by the National Prostate Cancer Coalition concluded this week.

The report, The Prostate Cancer Gap: A Crisis in Men’s Health, looks at the many disparities in awareness, funding, media coverage and research between prostate cancer and breast cancer. Shockingly for every prostate cancer drug on the market, there are seven for breast cancer and for every government dollar spent for research into breast cancer there is only fifty cents spent for prostate cancer.

“Prostate cancer is the second deadliest cancer in men, and will affect more than 230,000 men nationwide this year alone – roughly the same caseload as breast cancer,” said National Prostate Cancer Coalition CEO Richard N. Atkins, MD. “Year after year, the prostate cancer community has received less attention and less funding than many other diseases, especially breast cancer. This report will let lawmakers, advocates, and the media know that a change needs to be made to get prostate cancer the attention it deserves.”

The report also exposes a similar disparity in screening rates, insurance coverage and media exposure between breast and prostate cancer.

The Prostate Cancer Gap: A Crisis in Men’s Health is available to view and download at Fight Prostate Cancer

Joel T Nowak MA, MSW