Former President Joe Biden Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer
Introduction to the Diagnosis
WASHINGTON — Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office said Sunday.
Biden was seen last week by doctors after urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule was found. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.
Understanding the Diagnosis
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” his office said. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
Prostate cancers are given a score called a Gleason score that measures, on a scale of 1 to 10, how the cancerous cells look compared with normal cells. Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.
Spread of Prostate Cancer
When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often spreads to the bones. Metastasized cancer is much harder to treat than localized cancer because it can be hard for drugs to reach all the tumors and completely root out the disease.
However, when prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden’s case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones.
Health Concerns and Past Medical History
The health of Biden, 82, was a dominant concern among voters during his time as president. After a calamitous debate performance in June while seeking reelection, Biden abandoned his bid for a second term. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee and lost to Republican Donald Trump, who returned to the White House after a four-year hiatus.
But in recent days, Biden rejected concerns about his age despite reporting in the new book “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson that aides had shielded the public from the extent of his decline while serving as president.
In February 2023, Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. And in November 2021, he had a polyp removed from his colon that was a benign, but potentially pre-cancerous lesion.
Cancer Moonshot Initiative
In 2022, Biden made a “cancer moonshot” one of his administration’s priorities with the goal of halving the cancer death rate over the next 25 years. The initiative was a continuation of his work as vice president to address a disease that had killed his older son, Beau.
Conclusion
The diagnosis of prostate cancer for Former President Joe Biden brings to light the importance of regular health check-ups and the ongoing battle against cancer. As Biden and his family explore treatment options, the nation watches with concern and wishes him a successful recovery.
FAQs
- What type of cancer does Former President Joe Biden have?
- Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
- How aggressive is his cancer?
- His cancer is considered aggressive, with a Gleason score of 9, but it is hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.
- What are the treatment options for prostate cancer that has spread to the bones?
- Treatment options include therapies that deprive the tumors of hormones, which are essential for the growth of hormone-sensitive prostate cancers.
- What is the "cancer moonshot" initiative?
- The "cancer moonshot" is an initiative aimed at halving the cancer death rate over the next 25 years, a priority set by Biden during his administration.
- How has Biden’s health been a concern in the past?
- Biden’s health was a dominant concern during his presidency, with questions about his age and fitness for office, and he has had previous medical procedures for skin and colon lesions.
