Activism

OP-ED Early Detection Saved My Life from Prostate Cancer

Twice. That is how many times I have had to battle cancer. I still consider myself very fortunate, although surviving a disease that is expected to kill nearly 609,820 Americans this year is not a matter of luck. The fact is that cancer screenings can help save lives.

Published

3 years ago

November 7, 2023

Oakland Post

David Ford

By David Ford, Special to NNPA Newswire

Twice. That is how many times I have had to battle cancer.

I still consider myself very fortunate, although surviving a disease that is expected to kill nearly 609,820 Americans this year is not a matter of luck. The fact is that cancer screenings can help save lives.

When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I thought my prospects were dire. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer incidence among Black men is more than 70% higher than in white men, and Black men are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than white men. In fact, Black men have the highest death rate for prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S.

Thankfully, my prostate cancer was detected early. Three years prior, a tumor ruptured my colon, which is how I learned I had colorectal cancer. Had I heeded my doctor’s recommendation to undergo a colonoscopy months before, I could have had the tumor removed and prevented it from causing additional damage.

I learned that early detection is key to surviving cancer, so I prioritized my physical exams and cancer screenings. In 2018, elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test results signaled the potential for prostate cancer, and a biopsy confirmed it. I started my radiation treatment right away. Today, I am in remission.

Prostate cancer accounts for more than a third of all new cancers in Black men. Now this is what I want you to remember: when prostate cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100%. However, the likelihood of survival drops to 32% when it is found in its advanced stages.

This means that a future generation with zero deaths from prostate cancer is not a dream but an attainable goal IF the people who need cancer screenings can get them.

It also means that more lives can be saved if the disease is detected and treated early when treatment is more effective and less expensive.

Unfortunately, Black people generally have lower rates of cancer screening, likely due to factors such as having less access to care, lower likelihood of doctor recommendation and medical mistrust.

Out-of-pocket costs can also be a barrier to accessing screening.

As a prostate cancer survivor and member of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) Board of Directors, I believe that everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.

I know that having equitable access to screening is critical to reducing prostate cancer deaths and saving more lives, especially in the Black community.

That’s why I’m glad to see that there’s a bill before Congress that would help remove cost barriers to prostate cancer screening for men at high risk for the disease, the Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men (PSA Screening for HIM) Act.

Introduced by Representatives Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN), and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Boozman (R-AR), this bipartisan bill would waive cost-sharing requirements for prostate cancer screenings for men with the highest risk of prostate cancer, focusing on Black men and those with a family history of the disease.

If the bill is passed it means that men at high risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer would be able to get prostate cancer screenings without out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles, copayments, or coinsurances.

Our elected officials play a vital role in helping reduce the cancer burden and persistent disparities by advancing public health policies that improve access to prevention and early detection services.

As part of ACS CAN’s Leadership Summit and Lobby Day, I traveled to Washington, D.C. recently to meet with members of Congress to urge them to support the PSA Screening for HIM Act.

Passing this legislation is a crucial step to saving more lives from prostate cancer. It would also help address the unjust and unacceptable cancer disparities in the Black community.

Everyone at high risk for prostate cancer who has made an informed decision with their doctor to get screened should have access to that screening without cost-sharing posing an obstacle.

My plea to all men — Black men in particular — is to get your regular checkups, talk to your doctor about the benefits and limitations of PSA screening, and urge your Congressional representatives to support the PSA Screening for HIM Act. If health is wealth, consider this practice part of your legacy.

David Ford is a dedicated cancer advocate and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the advocacy affiliate for the American Cancer Society.

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‘Hire Oakland’ Job Fair Draws 2,000, Connecting Residents to Immediate Job Opportunities

Oakland’s Hire Oakland job fair, hosted by Mayor Barbara Lee’s office, connected over 2,000 job seekers with employers, highlighting a strong demand for quality jobs and career pathways in the city.

Published

21 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Left to right: Yawo Tekpa, OPIC Manager, One Stop Operator; Sofia Navarro, Deputy City Administrator; and Ray Lankford, CEO of the Oakland Private Industry Council. Photo by Jonathan Fitness Jones.

By Post Staff

The Office of Mayor Barbara Lee, in partnership with the City of Oakland and regional employers, hosted a successful Hire Oakland job fair this week at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, bringing together job seekers and employers for a day focused on opportunity, connection, and economic mobility.

With more than 2,000 RSVPs, the event on Wednesday reflected strong demand across Oakland for access to quality jobs and career pathways. Attendees participated in on-site recruitment, application support, and hands-on workshops designed to help job seekers navigate hiring processes and prepare for interviews.

Over the course of the day, employers and community partners engaged directly with residents in a welcoming, high-energy environment centered on opportunity and hope. Participating employers included EBMUD, Samuel Merritt University, the City of Oakland, BART, PG&E, AC Transit, East Bay Regional Parks District, Southwest Airlines, FedEx, and many others offering immediate openings and career pathways across sectors.

Workforce development partners Oakland Private Industry Council (OPIC) and Lao Family Community Development provided connections to résumé support, interview coaching, and individualized job search assistance throughout the event.

The strong turnout underscores a clear reality: Oakland residents are eager for pathways into meaningful work, and sustained investment in youth and workforce programs is essential.

That is why Mayor Lee has prioritized relaunching the Oakland Police Cadet Program and the Mayor’s Youth Employment and Education Program (MYEEP)—ensuring young people have early access to paid work experience, mentorship, and long-term career pathways, according to a City press statement.

“The turnout shows what we already know—Oaklanders are ready to work, ready to grow, and ready to build their futures here at home,” said Lee. “When we connect people directly to employers and invest in young people early, we are not just filling jobs—we are changing lives and strengthening our city’s future.”

The Hire Oakland job fair is part of the City’s broader effort to strengthen workforce pipelines, expand access to good-paying jobs, and ensure Oakland residents are first in line for local opportunity.

About Hire OaklandHire Oakland is a citywide workforce initiative led by the Office of Mayor Barbara Lee in partnership with City departments, workforce development organizations, and regional employers. The program connects Oakland job seekers to real-time hiring opportunities, training resources, and career pathways.

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Activism

Cassie ‘Mama C’ Lopez Honored as Oakland’s Mother of the Year

Cassandra “Mama C” Lopez, a dedicated parent, teacher, and activist, was honored as Oakland’s Mother of the Year for her unwavering commitment to community and justice.

Published

32 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Cassandra Lopez, known as “Mama C,” is surrounded by family, friends, and neighbors at Oakland’s annual Mother of Year celebration at the Morcom Rose Garden, Saturday, May 9. Photo by Mateenah Floyd-Okanlawon.

By Ken Epstein

The City of Oakland recognized Cassandra, “Mama C,” Lopez – parent, teacher, community activist, and justice warrior – as Oakland’s Mother of the Year in a celebration at Oakland’s Morcom Rose Garden on Mother’s Day weekend.

Long recognized as a leader in her community, she was nominated by District 3 City Councilmember Carroll Fife to receive the city’s 73rd annual Mother of the Year award.

Speaking at the crowded ceremony on Saturday, May 9, where Mama C received roses and a proclamation from Mayor Barbara Lee, Fife said she felt honored to nominate Lopez, an “amazing woman – a hell-raising humanitarian, for the energy, the passion, but most of all the love for community” that makes her one of those “exceptional women whose lives, exemplify love, sacrifice, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the family and community they serve.”

Cassie Lopez was born in 1945 to Pauline and Calvin Weaver, a family that had left Florida and Jim Crow for the east side of Detroit. From an early age, she was instilled with a sense of Black awareness, love, and the importance of community in the face of hardships, including poverty, freezing winters, low pay, and slum landlords.

Fifty-five years ago, she married Juan Lopez. The couple has three children and has lived for decades in a neighborhood on the edge of downtown Oakland near Mosswood Park.

Said her husband, Juan, “Mama C has been a selfless mother of our own children, and she also became a teacher. Our home became a second home for many young people. For some, it was refuge from difficult home situations, and for others, a safe place to hang out.

“Throughout the years, Mama C was sometimes a foot soldier and other times a leader, immersed in some of the biggest national and citywide struggles of the day,” Juan said. “But less known to many is the role she played day in and day out where the rubber hits the road.

“For 35 years, she has shepherded the Mosswood Park and Recreation Center – through its good and bad times. If the Center exists (and thrives) today, it has to do with Mama C, working alongside neighbors, center directors, community advisory council, and when necessary, community coalitions, city officials, the religious community, and the labor movement.”

Said Mateenah Floyd-Okanlawon, “I am an old friend of my sister here. We met in 1970 in the sugarcane fields of Cuba, where we were helping the Cuban government harvest their sugar. We have been friends ever since. She has always been someone who does not give in to despair.”

David Johnson, an educator in Oakland, was one of the neighborhood children who grew up in the community created by Mama C and her family

“Cassandra Lopez is a beacon of light, full of compassion. She has dedicated her life to quality education to the poor and working class,” serving for 40 years as a Spanish teacher in Oakland schools, he said.

“She has dedicated her life to speak truth to power, justice to the silent, and as a member of the community, she advocates for programs and resources,” he said.

In her remarks, Mama C recognized the influence and power of all mothers. “Together, we all stand on the backs of our mothers. Mothers play a special role in society. We give when we have almost nothing left to give. We hurt when some people don’t see the hurt and the pain that our families endure. But we keep on moving forward.”

Looking at what African Americans, other people of color and working people face in the country today, she said, “We are deserving of the very best because our hands, our bodies produce the wealth of world, and yet we get the least. We see our country wholesale being stolen away from us, and we are told to grin and bear it. We’re not bearing it; we’re fighting against it.”

Continuing, she said, “There’s enough wealth in this world that there should be no hunger in the world. There should be nobody without a decent place to live. Nobody should be sleeping on the street. Teachers should get the freedom to be creative and tell the stories that exist in this nation that make us strong and great.

“We have a lot to do. We cannot despair. We cannot run. People are learning, and together, collectively, we can do it.”