By Paul Williams | Prostate Cancer Survivor
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and across Central Mississippi, the message this year is about more than simply wearing blue.
Health advocates, survivors, medical providers and community organizations are encouraging men to learn their risk, talk with their healthcare providers about screening and, perhaps most importantly, stop treating prostate health as a subject that should only be discussed after something goes wrong.
That message is particularly important in Mississippi. African American men face a significantly higher risk of dying from prostate cancer, while increasing age and a family history of the disease can also raise a man’s risk.
The good news is that September 2026 offers Central Mississippi residents several opportunities to turn awareness into action.
Walk, Run and Talk About It
One of the month’s largest events will take place Saturday, September 12, in Gluckstadt.
The Mississippi Prostate Cancer Awareness Walk & 5K, organized by In Pursuit Prostate Cancer Awareness, begins at 8 a.m. near Weisenberger Road and Denim Way in Gluckstadt.
Participants can enter the 5K as runners or walkers for $35, while a one-mile walk/fun run is available for $25.
The organization includes prostate cancer survivors and works to promote awareness, early detection and support for Mississippi families affected by the disease.
Later in the month, another community event is scheduled for Sunday, September 27, at 3 p.m. at Leake Central Elementary School.
Organized with prostate cancer survivors associated with In Pursuit, the event’s theme is “Celebrate Life. Encourage Early Detection. Educate Every Man.”
Jackson is also observing Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
A Community Awareness Forum is scheduled for September 25 at 6 p.m. at Mississippi Baptist Hospital’s Belhaven Building, 1200 N. State St., Room 220.
The forum is expected to bring together urologists, survivors and advocates to discuss PSA screening, lifestyle issues and access to care.
Then on Sunday, September 28, participating Jackson churches are being encouraged to recognize Prostate Cancer Awareness Sunday, bringing conversations about early detection and PSA testing directly into congregations.
Where Central Mississippi Men Can Turn for Care
Central Mississippi has several medical resources that offer prostate screening, evaluation and cancer care.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center provides prostate cancer screening, diagnostic testing and treatment resources. Screening may include a PSA blood test.
An elevated PSA does not automatically mean a man has prostate cancer. Inflammation and other prostate conditions can also cause PSA levels to rise. Men with abnormal results may need additional testing and evaluation by specialists.
Mississippi Urology Cancer Center in Flowood is another Central Mississippi resource specializing in urologic oncology, including prostate cancer evaluation and treatment.
Baptist Cancer Center in Jackson also provides multidisciplinary cancer services.
For men who are unsure where to begin, a primary care provider can help determine whether prostate cancer screening is appropriate based on age, family history, race and other individual risk factors.
Don’t Wait for Symptoms
One of the most important messages during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is simple:
Don’t wait for symptoms to start talking about your risk.
The Mississippi State Department of Health identifies several urinary and other symptoms that warrant medical attention, including difficulty starting urination, weak or interrupted urine flow, frequent nighttime urination, difficulty completely emptying the bladder, pain or burning during urination, blood in the urine or semen, and persistent pain in the back, hips or pelvis.
But here’s the part every man needs to understand:
Prostate cancer can develop without obvious early symptoms.
That is why conversations about screening matter.
PSA testing can be an important part of that conversation. There isn’t one PSA number that, by itself, proves or rules out prostate cancer. Healthcare providers consider PSA results alongside a man’s age, risk factors, changes in PSA over time and other prostate conditions.
For African American men and men with a strong family history of prostate cancer, understanding personal risk and having an informed conversation with a healthcare provider can be especially important.
September’s Message: Awareness Must Become Action
Central Mississippi has an opportunity this September to make Prostate Cancer Awareness Month about more than statistics.
Walk on September 12.
Attend the Jackson forum on September 25.
Participate in the Leake County event on September 27.
Encourage your church to participate on September 28.
Wear blue.
Talk to your father. Talk to your brother. Talk to your son. Talk to your friend.
And if you are a man who has been putting off that conversation with your healthcare provider, September is a good time to start it.
Prostate cancer awareness is not just about knowing the statistics.
It is about knowing your risk, asking questions and taking action.
Don’t wait until something goes wrong to start talking about your health.
