Celebrity hairstylist Dwight Eubanks has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The former star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta discussed his health journey and how a community event resulted in the diagnosis. Speaking with PEOPLE Magazine, the 64-year-old revealed that, thirty years ago, his grandfather was also diagnosed with prostate cancer and eventually died from the disease.
“I was confident that I was Superman. I was cleared. I was going to be okay, and I just never thought about it,” he detailed.
In January, Eubanks got his bloodwork completed during a health event at his church and was contacted by the doctor for a timely follow-up, despite him feeling generally healthy.
Dwight Eubanks attends the Thurgood Marshall College Fund 25th Awards Gala on November 11, 2013 in Washington City.
Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Thurgood Marshall College Fund
“I was shocked. I was angry,” he recalls. “I was just emotionally a wreck,” elaborated Eubanks. “When you hear the word cancer, you freak out. I’m human. Society has told us that cancer was just devastating and, you know, you just have days to live. So, of course, I freaked out, and I think I’m still freaked out.”
Eubanks also noted that he could have received his diagnosis earlier due to his HIV positive status; however, doctors in the past had failed to bring up his high PSA levels.
“I was like, are you kidding me? This was back in 2022 and nobody said anything to me. He just said, ‘You’re undetectable, so you are fine.’ Never said anything about my prostate. I guess they just weren’t looking at that,” adding, “I just have to laugh instead of crying about this whole journey.”
According to the ZERO Prostate Cancer organization, Black and African-American men are much more likely to develop prostate cancer, as one in six Black men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime—compared to one in eight men overall. Additionally, Black men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with—and 2.1 times more likely to die from—prostate cancer than white men.
The entrepreneur is set to speak at ZERO Prostate Cancer’s Virtual Education and Support Summit, which takes place from June 3 – 5, 2025.
“I could not be silent with this because it could help people if they just get tested and don’t wait too long. And most important: ask questions, look at your records, investigate,” he shared. “I can’t say what should have, could have, or would have been, but I just have to embrace where I am now and be grateful and try to help somebody else along the way.”
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