The former president of the United States Joe Biden was diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer according to a statement of his personal office on Sunday (18). According to the statement, the disease spread to the bones, that is, suffered bone .
“Last week, President Joe Biden was examined for the discovery of a new prostate lump after having increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade 5 group) with bone metastasis,” the statement.
Bone metastasis is characterized by the dissemination of cancer cells of its initial focus – in the case of Biden, the prostate – for bones.
“Every cancer is able to send out focus from their cells to the distance fabrics of the origin organ and to this we are called metastases,” explains Bruno Benigno, urologist and oncologist at Oswaldo Cruz Hospital and director of the Uro Onco Clinic, to CNN .
According to the expert, prostate cancer metastasis can happen at any time of disease development, but especially in patients who have bulky tumors or with high aggressiveness in the gland.
“Metastasis happens through tumor infiltration into lymph nodes, blood vessels and nerves that permeate the prostate tissue,” explains Benigno. “The likelihood of metastases event depends on factors related to the tumor itself, such as aggressiveness and biological behavior, as well as factors related to the patient himself, such as the immune system with less degree of responsiveness,” he says.
How is tumor treatment with bone metastasis?
Because it is considered a highly aggressive tumor, the treatment of prostate cancer with bone metastasis is done with the purpose of control, not cure, according to Igor Morbeck, oncologist and member of the Scientific Committee of the Side by Side Institute for Life, CNN .
In this case, the main treatment is hormone therapy, ie the hormonal block. “This block can be unique, that is, through a monthly or quarterly injection, as a definitive treatment or associated with new hormonal agents,” he explains. “Radiotherapy can also happen after a long period of hormone therapy,” he adds.
Patients who have hormone therapy treatment can be divided into two groups: low volume (up to four metastasis foci) and high volume (with more than four metastasis foci).
“For low volume patients, treatment usually involves blocking testosterone with two medications. One that blocks testosterone production by the patient’s own organism, and the second that makes the additional blockage of the effect of testosterone on the body,” Benigno explains.
“For patients with prostate cancer with metastases who have never received testosterone block and that have a high volume of disease, we generally associate with testosterone block combined with chemotherapy,” he says.
According to experts, the chance of tumor control at this stage is high, but there is no chance of healing. “Today, with the new treatment strategies, we were able to prolong the expectation of survival of the patient. Before, it was around three years; today, it is around five to seven years, depending on the initial response, the aggressiveness of the tumor and the volume of disease presented,” says Benigno.
In addition, bone metastasis can cause other health complications, such as bone mass loss, which increases the risk of fractures. “It is often necessary to replace calcium and vitamin D, as well as using medications that reduce the incidence of osteoporosis,” Morbeck explains. “Then, a treatment that encompasses tumor care and also other complications related to the skeleton,” he concludes.
This content was originally published in prostate cancer with bone metastasis: Understand Joe Biden’s painting on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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