Former President Joseph Biden announced on Sunday that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer which had metastasized to his bones. He was diagnosed after reporting urinary symptoms to his doctors. His Gleason score is a 9 (out of a possible 10), making it aggressive cancer. The former president, 82, also has stadium cancer 4, which means that he has spread to his bones. His cancer is sensitive to hormones, according to his doctors, which seems to increase well for a potential treatment plan.
According to the New York Times, prostate cancer experts say that once the disease has spread to bones, it cannot be healed. Dr. Judd Moul, a prostate cancer expert in Duke, told the Times That men whose prostate cancer has spread “can live five, seven, 10 years or over”.
The announcement of President Biden was a shock for everyone. Black Health Matters joins the outpouring of prayers and wishes for him and his family. Yesterday he published this message on social networks:
“Cancer touches us all. Like many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are the strongest in broken places. Thank you for raised us with love and support. ”
How prostate cancer has an impact
The diagnosis of the former president made us think about how prostate cancer has a professional impact both professionally and personally. I spoke with Brian Bragg, director of the mission to Zero Prostate, on the reasons why it is also a moment for black men to take the screening of prostate cancer seriously. “Prostate cancer has a negative impact on black men in particular; Its alarm for them is a question of early detection. ”
According to research carried out by the Research Institute on Cancer, black men are twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men due to disparities in accessibility of care.
Additional research confirms this. “Persistent disparities in the treatment of AA and emerging disparities in Hispanic men, regardless of the stage of presentation, probably represent a significant predictor of higher mortality in poorly served populations”, Kelvin A. Moses, MD, PHD, from the Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Cancer Center medical center in Nashville, Tennessee and colleagues concluded in an urology.
“So, if one in eight man on the whole is affected by prostate cancer, for black men, there is one in six. There is also a higher disparity rate for veterans, those of the military and rural areas, “says Bragg.
“All of these communities are high -risk communities. And we must be aware that they were accessing care and that conversations with their healthcare providers on PSA tests from 40 years old. ”
How prostate exam tests have changed
Bragg wants to remind men that prostate examinations have gone from intrusive physical examinations to blood tests, which are carried out to establish the reference levels of prostate (PSA) in the blood and the frequency to which the tests must be repeated.
If prostate cancer is captured early, Bragg stresses that there is a high survival rate. “Even if you are diagnosed at an advanced stage, there are still therapies and terms that can help you; It is not an immediate death sentence, ”he explains.
Symptoms that should be verified
Although prostate cancer can be mainly not detected without PSA test, some symptoms should send you to the doctor for immediate overall tests, underlines Bragg:
- Difficulty urinating
- Uriner often, especially at night
- Burn or pain during urination
- Blood or pain during urination
These symptoms could indicate potential problems with your prostate. It is better to be mistaken on the side of caution than self-tale and discover that you have a advanced case later.
If you have been diagnosed, there is hope
If you are a black man diagnosed with prostate cancer, organizations like Zero Prostate have available resources that help you navigate, from diagnosis to the choice of treatment in search of peer support and support for caregivers.
Black Health Matters Resources
For more information on the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer, see these articles and videos of Black Health Matters:
50 questions to ask your doctor if your family has a history of prostate cancer
What to do after a diagnosis of prostate cancer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2xp5bji_5q
Additional resources
Prostate cancer statistics
Institute’s cancer research study
Racial disparities in the health of the prostate
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