Former US President Joe Biden Diagnosed With Aggressive Prostate Cancer
Former U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer which has reportedly spread to his bones, his office announced Sunday. The diagnosis followed urinary symptoms and the discovery of a prostate nodule. Biden is currently reviewing treatment options with his medical team, facing a significant personal health challenge after his presidency.
Unpacked:
A Gleason score of 9 indicates a very aggressive and high-grade prostate cancer. This score suggests the cancer cells are poorly differentiated, grow quickly, and are more likely to spread beyond the prostate, which aligns with the report that Biden’s cancer has metastasized to his bones.
Typical treatment options include hormone therapy (to reduce testosterone), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and sometimes surgery. Since Biden’s cancer is hormone-sensitive, hormone therapy is likely to play a major role. The goal is to manage and slow the disease, as advanced metastatic prostate cancer is generally not curable but can often be controlled.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after skin cancer. Major risk factors include age (risk increases with age), family history, and certain genetic factors. According to the CDC, about 13 out of 100 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, with risk rising significantly after age 65.
For someone in their 80s with metastatic prostate cancer, the disease is generally considered incurable, but it is often treatable and can be managed to improve quality of life. Many patients tolerate standard treatments well, but overall survival varies, and the focus typically shifts to managing symptoms and maintaining comfort.