Former President Joe Biden is fighting an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer, his office announced on Sunday, adding that his condition is characterized by a “9” Gleason score.
His office also said that the diagnosis of Biden included metastasis to the bone.
The diagnosis of Biden cancer occurs after a small nodule was found in the former president’s prostate after “a physical examination of routine” on Tuesday. The discovery of the nodule “required an additional evaluation,” said his spokesman at that time.
In February 2023, while the former 82 -year -old president was serving in the White House, Biden had an injury withdrawn from his chest that was cancerous, according to the former White House doctor. In addition, before entering the office, Biden had several non -melanoma leather cancers eliminated with Mohs surgery.
As the world reacts to Biden’s medical news, ABC News has broken down what its condition means and what possible treatments can be done.
What to know about prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that is formed in the fabrics of the prostate, the small gland in the male prostate that produces semen, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
It is the most common cancer and the second main cause of cancer death among men in the United States, according to the Federal Health Agency.
NIH reports are estimated to be estimated that 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed, which represents more than 15% of all cases of new cancer.
It is estimated that this year 35,770 deaths from prostate cancer will occur, representing 5.8% of all cancer deaths, according to the agency.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, offers comments at a press conference at Filoli Estate on November 15, 2023 in Woodsis, California. The press conference follows a meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the week of leaders of the Economic Cooperation of Asia and El Pacífic
Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
Prostate cancer has a five -year survival rate, which means that the percentage of living people five years after diagnosis is approximately 98%.
In general, prostate cancer generally grows very slowly and find it and treat it before symptoms may not improve the health of men or help them live longer.
However, it is generally a more treatable type of cancer, even when it has spread even more.
Approximately 12.9% of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their life, according to NIH. In 2022, there was an estimate of 3.5 million men living with prostate cancer in the United States.
The median age of the diagnosis of prostate cancer is 68 years old, according to the agency, while the medium age of death due to prostate cancer is 79.
Although the agency reports that the rates of new cases of prostate cancer have increased an average of 1.8% each year from 2013 to 2022, mortality rates have decreased on average 0.6% each year between 2014 and 2023.
What is a Gleason score?
The Gleason classification system, or the Gleason score, refers to the probability that cancer progresses and spreads, but does not predict the result.
It is the way to describe prostate cancer based on how abnormal cancer cells in a biopsy sample under a microscope and how quickly they probably extend and spread, according to NIH.
The Gleason score is calculated by adding the two degrees of cancer cells that constitute the largest areas of the biopsied tissue sample, says the NIH.
The qualification system generally varies from 6 to 10.
The diagnosis of Biden of a 9 Gleason score indicates that its cancer is aggressive.
A 9 score indicates that cancer cells are very different from normal prostate cells and they are probable that they grow and spread rapidly. This places cancer in group 5 grade, the highest risk category, associated with a greater probability of metastasis and a more challenging prognosis. However, despite the apparent aggressiveness of cancer, its sensitive nature to hormones offers a viable treatment pathway.
Possible treatment options
While it remains to announce the Official Biden treatment plan, the possible options for the former president include hormonal therapy or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which can reduce the levels of male hormones that can feed the growth of prostate cancer.
This approach can effectively slow down the progression of the disease and handle symptoms, even in advanced stages where cancer has spread to bones.
Regular monitoring of prostate antigen (PSA) levels is crucial, since the increase in PSA levels may indicate cancer activity and help evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.
Surgery is generally not an option in cases such as Biden, when the disease has spread to the bone and is not limited to the prostate.
After the diagnosis of the former president, the American Cancer Society issued a statement, saying: “This news is a reminder about the tragic impact of prostate cancer in the United States”
“Early detection is key, and we are worried given the 5% year after year in the diagnosis of men with more advanced diseases. We can and must do more to prevent the diagnosis of late stage and death from prostate cancer,” said the ACS.
The most future resources are available in the Cancer Aid of the American Society of American Cancer (1-800-227-2345) and the website, Cancer.org.
