Former US President Joe Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Form of Prostate Cancer

Strategic Insights -

Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has already spread to his bones, according to a Sunday announcement. Biden's office revealed that his cancer has a Gleason score of nine out of ten, which indicates a highly aggressive cancer. Despite this, his cancer "appears to be hormone-sensitive," which allows for effective management. This diagnosis raises questions about what Gleason scores mean, what hormone-sensitive cancer is, and how prostate cancer is treated.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide, with 1 in 9 men being diagnosed by the age of 85 in Australia.
  • The Gleason score is a grading system used to measure the aggressiveness of prostate cancer, with a score of 9 indicating a highly aggressive cancer.
  • A Gleason score of 6 or less is considered low risk, while a score of 8 or higher is considered high risk.
  • Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer needs male sex hormones to grow and can be treated with hormone therapies such as androgen-deprivation therapy or androgen-receptor blockers.
  • Symptoms of prostate cancer can include frequent urination, pain, back pain, and weakness in the legs or feet.
  • Advanced prostate cancer can cause pain, fatigue, and weight loss.
  • Hormone therapies for prostate cancer can have side effects such as erectile dysfunction, weight gain, fatigue, and osteoporosis.

Statistics:

  • 1 in 9 men in Australia will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the age of 85.
  • A Gleason score of 8 or higher indicates a high-risk prostate cancer.
  • 10% of prostate cancers have a Gleason score of 9 or higher.
  • 90% of prostate cancers have a Gleason score of 7 or less.
  • It's estimated that 190,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year.

Sources:

  • The Conversation Media Group Ltd. (2010–2022)
  • SyndiGate Media Inc. ( )