Over 800 barbers have joined forces nationwide to educate their clients about prostate cancer. In addition to talking about the disease barbers also supply their customers with information on where to go for low-cost screenings. The growing force behind this prostate prevention movement is a grass-roots group called Prostate Net. It was founded in 1996 by Virgil Simons, who had surgery for prostate cancer at age 48 and last year felt the need to reach out to African American men to discuss personal issues and concerns in barber shops, a setting where they would feel at ease.

Due to the nature of their work all barbers are predisposed to identifying some health problems through the condition of their clients' hair, skin and nails. By doing so they're already inclined to looking at their clients from a health perspective.

The help of MGM Studios, in connection of last year's release of the movie "Barbershop 2" enabled the Barber Shop Initiative to enlist nearly 60 medical centers across the country to supply barbers with the necessary training on how to advise their clients on the disease.

African American Men in Highest Risk Bracket For Prostate Cancer

* African American men die of the disease at approximately twice the rate of other American men

* African American men are generally reluctant to visit doctors

* Prostate cancer often has no symptoms for seven to 10 years

* If diagnosed in its early stages, it is highly curable

One medical expert dispelled myths of the prostate cancer/sexual practices connection or that it can be cured by hormone shots. He also explained that in the later stages of the disease when a patient undergoes surgery they can be left with undesirable side effects such as incontinence.

Rather than let the disease get to the point of surgery as the only option, the Prostate Net program encourages African American men to follow a proactive approach when it comes to taking care of their health. Unlike factors out of your control such as race or age, living proactively means addressing all of the factors in your life that you can change that will make a difference in your health. 

Screening for prostate cancer can be a good thing to the extent that it raises awareness and teaches men a healthier lifestyle to prevent or cure prostate problems. However, to the point that it rushes men into fear and "treatments," it is highly questionable business development and marketing by well-meaning barbers.

The evidence that "treatments" are not extending lives is overwhelming, as is the evidence that they result in major loss of quality of life, resulting in impotence, diapers and loss of creative energy, creating a "perpetual patient for a shortened life." Several studies have shown that prostate cancer patients who do nothing, live longer and much happier lives. Based on these studies, major governments no longer recommend prostate cancer screening because there is no evidence that screening has extended lives and it clearly can destroy quality of life.

Combined with recent studies showing the inaccuracy of the PSA (prostate-specific antigen, a marker for prostate cancer) and the million non-cancerous prostates removed unnecessarily at Stanford University alone, screening, except for raising awareness to inspire men to a healthier lifestyle, needs serious evaluation. Is this just another blatant business promotion for urologists and clinics?

Will anyone educate the barbers and their clients on prevention and healthier lifestyles? Point them to this or similar self-help sites.

It has been abundantly clear over the past 15 years since my own diagnosis and healing, that men who choose to take responsibility and make a few changes in their lifestyle are able to heal their prostate cancer or prostatitis and move into a whole new level of health and well being.

For some tips on how to prevent prostate cancer, don't miss Dr. Mercola's past article, How You Can Beat Prostate (and Breast) Cancer Nutritionally.

Dr. Larry Clapp is the author of bestselling Prostate Health in 90 Days Without Drugs or Surgery. When diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1990, Dr. Clapp made a firm decision to deflect falling victim to surgery, radiation or chemotherapy and instead focused on researching the self-healing alternatives to treating prostate cancer. During his seven years of intensive research, Dr. Clapp developed expertise in cleansing, nutritional healing, pH balancing, herbology, homeopathy, bodywork and energetic and spiritual healing. Combining the best of these healing arts, he developed a successful treatment program for prostate cancer, which he used to cure himself.

He earned his J.D. degree at the University of Michigan Law School in 1963 and later obtained his Ph.D. at Galien University in London in 1996.

Today, Dr. Clapp is cancer-free and uses his research to aid others in treating and curing their prostate cancer without succumbing to harmful drugs or surgery.