What is Gleason Score? Amid prostate cancer diagnosis, Joe Biden's hormone-sensitive tumor gives doctors a promising path for targeted treatment
Former President
Joe Biden
has a serious kind of prostate cancer, his team said on Sunday, according to reports. Doctors say his cancer has a
Gleason score
of 9, which means it's strong and spreads fast. The cancer has also reached his bones, which makes it even more dangerous, as per ABC News report.
Last week Biden went for a regular check up as he started having trouble while peeing. During that check up, the doctor found a small lump. On Friday, it was confirmed it is cancer, as per reports.
In February 2023, when he was still President, doctors had already removed a cancer spot from his chest. Even before becoming President, Biden had a few skin cancers taken out using a special surgery called Mohs.
Prostate cancer starts in a small part of a man's body called the prostate. The prostate helps make semen, it is the most common cancer in men in the U.S., according to the reports.
Let's understand what Gleason score is, it is a system to grade prostate cancer based on how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope according to the National Institutes of Health and reports.
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The score is calculated by adding the grades of the two most common cancer patterns in a biopsy, as mentioned in the DailyMail report. Scores range from 6 is less aggressive to 10 is most aggressive. Biden's score is 9, which means his cancer is very abnormal and likely to grow or spread fast, as per reports. A score of 9 puts Biden in Grade Group 5, the highest risk level.
Biden's prostate cancer grows because of male hormones like testosterone. These hormones make the cancer worse by sticking to the cancer cells. Positively is there's a treatment called
Hormone Androgen Deprivation Therapy
that blocks these hormones. It can slow down or stop the cancer. But sometimes, the cancer stops responding to this therapy. Then doctors may need to try other treatments like chemotherapy or targeted drugs, according to reports.
Since the cancer has spread to his bones, surgery isn't a good option now. Doctors will also use PSA blood tests to track how well treatment is working. Treatment plans haven't been announced yet. Biden and his family are still reviewing treatment options with his doctors, according to reports.
The
American Cancer Society
said the news reminds us how serious prostate cancer can be. They also said early detection is key, and they're worried because advanced cases have increased by 5% year-over-year. As mentioned in the DailyMail report, Dr. Houman David Hemmati, a physician and former prostate cancer researcher, said aggressive cases like Biden's need lifelong management. He urged men over 50 to get PSA screenings, especially those with risk factors, as per reports.
According to a DailyMail report, Congressman Greg Murphy, a Republican and doctor, questioned if Biden was getting routine screenings. He posted on X "Screening is critical." Donald Trump and Melania Trump said they were saddened to hear the news. Trump wrote on Truth Social, 'We wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.' Donald Trump Jr. also shared the news and said, "Politics aside, we wish him a speedy recovery", as mentioned in the reports.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Early symptoms include, blood in urine or semen, peeing more often or trouble urinating. However, later symptoms include back and bone pain, weight loss, erectile dysfunction or weakness in limbs according to the American Cancer Society as mentioned in the reports.
Overall, prostate cancer has one of the best survival rates thanks to modern treatment as per Johns Hopkins Medicine. According to reports, many men live 5 to 15 plus years after diagnosis, but in advanced stages like Biden's, the 5 year survival rate drops to 28%.
FAQs
Q1. What type of cancer does Joe Biden have?
He has a strong and fast-spreading prostate cancer.
Q2. Can prostate cancer spread to bones?
Yes, in serious cases, it can spread to bones and become harder to treat.
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