Abstract 4956: Exploration of sub-Saharan African immigrants’ reactions to prostate cancer diagnosis

Abstract Background: About 300, 000 men will hear “you have Prostate Cancer” annually in the United States. Black men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed than White men, and sub-Saharan African Immigrants (SSAIs) are 1.5 times more likely than Black men. These 4 words spark various reactions as the journey towards treatment and survivorship begins. Emotions influence the decision-making process, mental health, adherence to treatment, and treatment outcomes. An exploration of the initial reactions to diagnosis displayed by SSAI will better inform future interventions aimed at improving health outcomes. Methods: In depth interviews were conducted with 22 SSAI Prostate Cancer (CaP) survivors, guided by Grounded Theory. Purposeful sampling was employed to ensure the study population reflected the cultural diversity among SSAIs. Interviews were transcribed, verified, and analyzed in NVivo 13. Results: Participants expressed a range of reactions, unique to their individual experiences. These reactions were categorized into 3 over-arching categories: positive (showing signs of agreement or acceptance with the diagnosis), negative (showing signs of resistance to the diagnosis), or neutral (showing no strong pull to positive or negative, often revolving around action-based desires). Participants often experienced multiple reactions across this spectrum, but analysis showed potential correlation among various demographic variables such as age and time passed from diagnosis resulting in more neutral recollections of reactions. Conclusions: The wide range of initial reactions to CaP diagnosis are reflective of the individual and their unique experiences as an SSAI. These common reactions and mindsets immediately following diagnosis are insightful to a patient’s current headspace, focus, personal outlook, and overall mental health. All these emotions impact decision making with regards to treatment, treatment adherence, and even treatment regret as the survivorship journey continues. The National Institute of Health’s Cancer Control Continuum includes focus areas for etiology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. However, there remains a lack of focus on the initial reaction to diagnosis. Future studies should focus on further illuminating the relationship between a patient’s initial reaction to diagnosis and their treatment decisions, adherence, and overall survivorship. Citation Format: Kaitlin Van Voorhis, Ernie Kaninjing. Exploration of sub-Saharan African immigrants’ reactions to prostate cancer diagnosis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4956.