Is Biden prostate cancer treatable?

Former President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with stadium prostate cancer that spread to his bones.

According to Biden’s office declaration, his cancer has a Gleason score of 9 out of 10, which means that it is an aggressive form of prostate cancer. However, cancer seems “seems sensitive to hormones, which allows effective management”.

The survival of prostate cancer depends on the spread of cancer. Localized or regional cases have a five -year survival rate over 99%, but it decreases to 37% if cancer has spread from the original tumor site.

“Fortunately, the prognosis for Stade 4 prostate cancer has improved considerably in the last decade thanks to several new treatments and pierced,” said David Greenberg MD, oncologist at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

What is prostate cancer?

The prostate is a gland that produces liquid to help sperm to stay healthy. It is roughly the size of a nut among young people, but it often grows with age. Sometimes this growth is a sign of cancer.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States. About 1 in 8 men will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer during their lifetime.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Biden would have had urinary symptoms before requesting medical care.

Because the prostate is just below the bladder, prostate cancer can affect urination. Some people notice that they are more often or find it difficult to go. Blood in urine or sperm can also be a symptom, but these signs generally appear in subsequent stages. Prostate cancer at an early stage often does not cause symptoms.

What is the Gleason score?

The Gleason score is used to note prostate cancer as a function of the horma that the tissues are abnormal under the microscope. The scale varies from 1 (the most normal) to 5 (the most abnormal).

Since the cancer cells in the fabric of the prostate may vary, pathologists generally take several samples and choose two sections to assign notes. They then add the two notes to obtain a total score. Most prostate cancers have a Gleason score between 6 and 10.

For example, if the primary note is 5 and the secondary is 4, the total score is 9. Biden prostate cancer had a Gleason score of 9, placing it in the most aggressive category.

In addition to the Gleason score, health care providers take into account other factors when staging prostate cancer, such as the results of physical exams and the results of blood tests. They help guide decisions and prospects for treatment.

Is Biden cancer treatable?

Prostate cancer treatment options vary depending on the progression of the disease. More aggressive cancers can be more difficult to manage, but they are often still treatable.

Biden cancer would be sensitive to hormones, which means that it can respond to the treatments that reduce testosterone, a hormone that feeds prostate cancer growth.

“Prostate cancer is very sensitive to anti-testosterone therapies.

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are also used, especially when hormone therapy is not effective. These treatments can be given before or after surgery to eliminate prostate and surrounding lymph nodes.

Some people with advanced prostate cancer may be eligible for immunotherapy, activating the immune system to target cancer cells.

Factors such as age, overall health and access to care can affect survival rate. Even after treatment, prostate cancer can reproduce, long -term surveillance is often necessary.

How has Biden cancer passed not detected?

Prostate cancer is often detected with a specific prostate antigen test (PSA). However, PSA routine screening is not recommended for people aged 70 and over.

“Unfortunately, screening tests are not as precise as we would like and PSA tests are somewhat controversial as to which should be detected, and when they should start,” said Greenberg.

The United States Preventive Services Working Group (USPSTF) currently recommends that people aged 55 to 69 to discuss the advantages and potential risks of a PSA test with their health care provider.

The USPSTF is updating its prostate cancer screening guidelines.

An examination of the prostate, when a supplier checks the prostate by inserting a finger in the rectum, can also be part of an initial assessment during a regular appointment. However, an extended prostate does not always mean cancer. The gland grows naturally with age, and conditions such as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) can also cause growth.

Likewise, a high PSA level does not always indicate cancer. PSA can be high due to HBP, infections or even certain drugs. For people with symptoms or risk factors, a PSA test can help them decide on the following steps, such as undergoing prostate biopsy. If cancer is diagnosed, PSA tests can also help monitor the progression of the disease.

Some medical organizations recommend starting screening earlier or doing them more frequently for those who are more at risk, including black men and people with family history of prostate cancer. In the end, the decision to detect is based on a discussion shared between the patient and his supplier.