The diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer of former US President Joe Biden understandably raised concerns and questions: How long has cancer, how will it be treated, and what is his prognosis?
As the politician’s public announcement draws attention to this type of cancer, it serves as a reminder of the importance of regularly checking its own health.
Here is what you need to know about metastatic prostate cancer: how it is detected, how are treatments and why early tracking remains essential for male health.
How biden cancer was diagnosed
The diagnosis of the former president began after he had “increasing urinary symptoms,” his office said, and a prostate lump was discovered.
The detection of a prostate nodule probably occurred during a digital rectal examination (ERD). During the exam, the doctor gently inserts a finger into the rectum to examine the prostate, located directly in front of the rectal wall. A healthy prostate usually is smooth and symmetrical. A nodule in the prostate, on the other hand, is firm, high and irregular-with texture similar to that of the nodes of the fingers.
Not all prostate nodules indicate cancer – many are benign and are associated with conditions such as increased prostate (HPB) or prostate calculations (calcifications). However, in the case of Biden, additional exams – probably including a blood test for specific prostatic antigen (PSA), image exams and biopsy – confirmed prostate cancer. Additional examinations revealed that cancer had spread to bones, classifying it as aggressive and high-risk metastatic prostate cancer.
Understanding Metastatic Prostate Cancer
“Metastatic” means that cancer cells spread beyond the original place (the prostate) to other areas – most commonly bones and lymph nodes. Biden cancer has spread specifically to bones, placing it between 5% to 7% of prostate cancer cases in the United States that are metastatic in the initial diagnosis. Although this percentage looks small, it represents a significant number, as over 300,000 men in the US and approximately 1.5 million worldwide are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.
Prostate cancer at an early stage has an excellent prognosis, with a survival rate in five years of almost 100%. However, when prostate cancer is metastatic at the time of diagnosis, the five -year survival rate drops dramatically to about 37%. It is important to note that these survival rates are statistical averages, and individual results vary considerably based on overall health, age, cancer aggression and patient response to treatment.
For Biden – and all patients with prostate cancer – this diagnosis marks the beginning of a highly personalized journey. It is still impossible at this time to accurately answer the question, “How long do I do?” That, of course, is the question that everyone wants to be answered.
Why your Gleason score is important
The severity of prostate cancer is classified using the Gleason score, which ranges from 6 to 10. Lower scores (6 to 7) indicate more slow and less aggressive growth carcinogenic cells, while higher scores (8 to 10) represent aggressive cancers with more likely to spread rapidly.
Biden’s Gleason 9 score indicates highly aggressive prostate cancer that usually requires immediate and comprehensive treatment.
In my clinic, the moment of the diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer is always difficult, evoking fear, uncertainty and many questions. At this point, I ask the patient to take a deep breath, diminish the rhythm and work together as we built a care team.
This multidisciplinary team may include specialists in urology, clinical oncology, radiotherapy, radiology and support care services. Each expert contributes to a unique perspective, helping to create a treatment plan that has the best interest of the patient and his life goals.
Prostate cancer treatment options
Localized prostate cancer can usually be cured with treatments such as robot -assisted prostate removal (prostatectomy) or radiotherapy. However, the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer goes from healing to symptom control, disease progression control and maintaining quality of life. Common treatments for metastatic prostate cancer include:
- Hormonal therapy (androgen deprivation therapy, TPA): Blocks testosterone, essential for prostate cancer cell growth.
- Chemotherapy: Drugs to slow cancer growth, especially when isolated hormone therapy is insufficient.
- Radiotherapy: Acts in metastatic lesions, reducing pain and symptoms, especially in bones.
- Immunotherapy and precision medicine: treatments that use the immune system to attack cancer cells or therapies aimed at specific genetic markers.
- Support Care: Symptom relief and improvement of quality of life.
Advanced treatments effectively control metastatic prostate cancer, but often have side effects that affect daily life. Common side effects include fatigue, changes in sexual function, heat waves, mood swings and muscle loss.
Treatment for Metastatic Prostate Cancer depends on several factors: the patient’s general health, age, other medical conditions and personal preferences. President Biden’s medical team will carefully customize his treatment by aligning him with his unique health circumstances and quality of life objectives.
How to take care of the health of my prostate?
A common question that arises from Biden’s diagnosis is whether his cancer could have been detected before or if he impacted him during his presidency. The president of the United States receives excellent medical attention, and the truth is that we may never know.
Instead of getting stuck in these questions unanswered, I recommend that we focus on something we can control: our own health. Biden’s diagnosis is a powerful reminder of our responsibility and opportunity to proactively manage our health.
As a urologist, I experience daily how unpredictable prostate cancer can be. Some patients have clear signs of the disease, while others surprise me with aggressive or unexpected cases. Cancer does not discriminate and its trajectory can be uncertain. But one factor we can all control is our approach to prevention and early diagnosis.
The symptoms to be observed are blood in the urine or semen; Need to urinate more often, including waking up at night to urinate; and difficulty starting to urinate. Signs of more advanced disease may also include accidental leakage, back and bone pain, fatigue, weight loss and weakness.
Former President Biden’s experience should be alert to us: schedule regular health exams, talk about prostate examinations with your doctor, pay attention to your body signals, and prioritize general health.
By changing the conversation of speculation about someone else’s journey to active engagement in yours, you are investing in the most valuable and invaluable good you have: your health.
This content was originally published in Biden with Cancer: What do we know? on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
