19-05-2025
Charlotte oncologists weigh in on prostate cancer warning signs after former President Biden's diagnosis
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Here at home, we're learning more from doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. This comes after former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease this weekend.
Former president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with cancer
Dr. Adam Kuykendal from Novant Health said one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
'There is a large opportunity for the men who are willing to, and hopefully this encourages men to be more proactive with their health and get them to the doctor,' Kuykendal said.
One in eight men is diagnosed in their lifetime. Charlotte Oncologists say patients are usually low risk or unlikely to have problems. It's when the cancer is aggressive and spreads that more needs to be done.
'The Gleason score is pathologists' way of looking at the cancer biopsy and saying how bad does it look – what kind of features might make it a more aggressive cancer,' Kuykendal said.
Kuykendal said 8, 9, and 10 are considered high risk.
Dr. Earle Burgess from Atrium Health Levine Center said a common treatment for the disease is Androgen Deprivation Therapy. This lowers hormone levels, but it does not cure the disease.
'They'll go dormant, hibernate if you will, and at some point, in the future, they'll eventually start growing again despite the low testosterone environment,' Burgess said.
There's no universal guidance for when or how to get screened. Both experts we spoke with said these are conversations you need to have with your primary care physician.
'We want to be careful to not over diagnose those and over treat those because the treatment surgery radiation can come with side effects, of course,' Kuykendal said.
If you have a change in color, frequency or pain when urinating, be sure to tell your primary care physician.
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