Latest news with #YaleCancerCenter
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Biden's Cancer Has A High Gleason Score. Doctors Explain What That Means.
Over the weekend, President Joe Biden's office announced that the former president has prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. 'On Friday he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,' the official statement read. The statement also categorized his diagnosis as 'a more aggressive form of the disease' and noted that there are certain hormone-based treatments available. Biden's diagnosis sent shockwaves throughout the country and the world, along with people who have faced this diagnosis themselves. One in eight people are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States, making it the most common type of cancer in men. There are treatments available, whether it's caught early or in later stages, like Biden's. Below, doctors explain what Biden's diagnosis means and what you should know about early detection. A Gleason score applies exclusively to prostate cancer, and is used by doctors to measure how advanced it is. 'The Gleason score is one of the first measures that describes the appearance of the cancer under the microscope. And that's a very strong indicator of how aggressive the prostate cancer is,' said Dr. Michael Leapman, clinical program leader of the prostate and urologic cancers program at Yale Cancer Center in Connecticut. In the official statement, Biden's office said he has a Gleason score of 9 and Grade Group of 5. Grade Group refers to the new way doctors measure one's Gleason score, and Grade Group 5 is 'the highest grade that we assign to prostate cancer,' Leapman said. In the old Gleason system, which goes from 6 to 10, Biden's Gleason score is a 9, which is 'among the most aggressive types [of prostate cancer],' said Dr. Jason Efstathiou, a radiation oncologist at Mass General Brigham in Boston. 'And what does that mean? It means that it can grow quickly and it is more likely to spread,' Efstathiou explained. 'When prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate, the most common sites are the lymph nodes and/or the bone, and when it's spread in that manner, it's called metastatic prostate cancer, and that makes it more serious and certainly harder to cure,' Efstathiou said. In Biden's case, it has spread to the bones, according to the official statement. Roughly 5-10% of prostate cancers are diagnosed after they have spread, Efstathiou noted. 'Gleason 9 cancers are more likely than lower grade cancers to be metastatic at diagnosis or to spread later on,' Efstathiou said. 'Unfortunately, prostate cancer that has left the bones is not currently curable. We don't have any cures for prostate cancer that has metastasized,' said Leapman. While there isn't currently a cure, there are other options to extend someone's lifespan. 'We do, fortunately, have very good treatments that can control and shrink prostate cancer that has metastasized for many, many years,' Leapman added. Cancer research has grown in recent decades to allow for therapies and treatments for patients, said Dr. Nitim Yerram, the co-director of urologic oncology at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. The official statement from Biden's office said that 'the President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.' And while no one other than Biden's own care team knows his current treatment options, experts said there are a few common treatment routes for metastatic prostate cancer. 'Talking about patients that are initially diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate with metastatic prostate cancer, treatment typically includes a combination of therapies, but by far and away, the backbone is what's called hormone therapy,' said Efstathiou. 'And what does hormone therapy do? It reduces testosterone and testosterone production, and can also block the action of testosterone — and testosterone is actually the fuel for prostate cancer, and so what these hormone therapies are doing are cutting off the fuel supply and starving the prostate cancer cells,' he explained. Hormone therapy is usually combined with other therapies, he added. 'So, while the backbone is hormonal therapy, in recent years, research and trials have shown that adding on other targeted therapies can improve survival and outcomes even further.' Radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy are examples of other targeted therapies that can help control symptoms and the disease, added Efstathiou. 'If you or a loved one is diagnosed with these more advanced prostate cancers ... it's important for them to know that they're not alone, that there are many effective treatments, that research has been moving fast. In just the past two decades, there are well over a dozen new drug therapies specifically for metastatic prostate cancer,' he said. 'So while it's serious, there is hope, and there certainly is progress as well.' 'We know that the the best thing we can do to reduce any man's risk of dying from prostate cancer or developing metastatic prostate cancer is to find it early,' said Leapman. The best way to do this is through PSA screening, which measures 'a blood marker called PSA, which stands for prostate specific antigen, and if that level is elevated, that can be an indicator that there is prostate cancer,' Leapman noted. The official guidelines recommend PSA screenings for men ages 55 to 69, but you should talk to your primary care doctor to see if PSA screening is right for you and at what age. 'Some of the guidelines would start that at at age 50, and some guidelines even recommend a baseline PSA level drawn between ages 45 to 49,' said Efstathiou. As mentioned above, some folks are at higher risk of prostate cancer — Black men, those with a familial history and those with certain genetic mutations. For those people, PSA screening should 'certainly be considered,' said Efstathiou. In the official statement about Biden's diagnosis, 'increasing urinary symptoms' were mentioned. But it is often a symptomless cancer, said Yerram. 'Most men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer do not have symptoms because we're catching things early,' said Leapman. This is particularly true in its early stages, added Efstathiou. This doesn't mean there are never signs, though. 'When [symptoms] do occur, it could manifest as urinary difficulties, like difficulty starting or stopping the urinary stream, more frequent urination, a weak stream,' Efstathiou said. It may also present as blood in the urine or semen, he added. When it comes to more advanced prostate cancer, sometimes — but not often — it could present with bone pain, weight loss or fatigue, said Efstathiou. If you have any of these concerning symptoms, it's important to talk to your doctor, Efstathiou said. 'Prostate cancer is not the one that typically spreads quickly, ' said Yeram. 'So, [Biden] has had this for some amount of time, and I'm sure it was undiagnosed prior to what they recently recently released,' said Yerram. Typically, routine PSA screening is not recommended for people over the age of 70, he added. 'I suspect, given the president's age, he may not have gotten routine PSA screening — I can't speak to his care specifically, but I would say the chance of having aggressive prostate cancer while you're getting routinely screened with a blood test of the PSA is extremely low,' Yeeram said. (This is why doctors typically recommend PSA screening, Yeeram added.) 'The time from cancer development to symptom onset can vary widely. Even aggressive prostate cancer can go quietly for months or even years before symptoms appear ... in some cases, by the time symptoms develop, the disease has already spread. That's why regular screening and early evaluation are essential, especially in men at higher risk,' Efstathiou said. Higher-risk men include those with certain genetic mutations, Black men and those with a family history of the disease, added Efstathiou. 'It's even possible for some advanced prostate cancers to present with low PSA and to develop very quickly,' noted Efstathiou. 'Certainly, Gleason 9 prostate cancers can grow more quickly, and have a greater ability and likelihood to spread and that can happen quickly — even though that timeline can vary quite a bit,' Efstathiou said. 'The one thing I really want to emphasize in the current climate, and this is the most important thing, is with federal funding being slashed for research, and the NIH being gutted, and all the other support that the government is slowly taking away, this is years in the making to be able to provide new therapies to help patients,' said Yerram. 'And I'm sure [Biden] will be one to benefit from all that,' he said. 'I think it should make us all rethink what's happening on an everyday basis in our country and really emphasize that it's really the government that helps with the advancement of new therapies, and we should really, really advocate for such funding,' noted Yerram. Biden Shares Selfie, Message Of Gratitude After Shock Cancer Diagnosis Biden Has Been Diagnosed With Aggressive Prostate Cancer The Age You Should Get A Mammogram Just Got Lowered
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former President Joe Biden diagnosed with 'aggressive' prostate cancer: What to know about the illness and treatment options, according to experts
Former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office announced on Sunday. The Democrat, who was experiencing urinary symptoms, was diagnosed on Friday following the discovery of a nodule on his prostate. 'While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management,' Biden's office said, noting that additional scans revealed that the cancer has spread to Biden's bones. 'The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.' As words of support flooded social media, Biden shared a note alongside a photo of himself, wife Jill Biden and their cat on X. 'Cancer touches us all,' he wrote. 'Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.' Yahoo News spoke to experts about what Biden's prognosis means and which treatments he may choose to receive. The prostate is a male-only organ found below the bladder and in front of the rectum, and it aids in fertility. Prostate cancer is 'the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer death,' behind lung cancer, Dr. William Oh, a genitourinary oncologist and director of precision medicine for Yale Cancer Center, told Yahoo News. 'We know it is a disease of aging and that it is more common as men get older,' said Oh, who does not treat Biden. He also noted that while people with a family history of prostate cancer, as well as African American men, have a higher risk of developing it, 'we do not know what causes prostate cancer.' Prostate cancer oncologist Dr. Christopher Wee of the Cleveland Clinic, who also does not treat Biden, told Yahoo News that 'aggressive' is a 'relative term,' but that health care professionals use it to explain that the cancer is 'more likely to grow and spread than the average cancer.' One measure of how aggressive a cancer can be, Wee said, is the Gleason score. 'The more abnormal the cancer cells are, the higher the Gleason score,' he said, noting that the highest score possible is 10 and the lowest score is six. Biden's Gleason score is a nine, which, Wee said, 'reflects a more aggressive behavior.' According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer when it has spread to other parts of the body is 37%. 'When prostate cancer has spread outside of the prostate, such as to the bone, this is called metastatic cancer,' Wee said. 'Generally speaking, this is not usually considered curable, and it becomes a lifelong disease.' Metastatic cancer is considered Stage IV. While treatment can slow its growth, improve or maintain the quality of life and help patients live longer, it's 'very difficult to get too much more specific than that, because there can be people in whom there's only one bone spot, and there can be people in whom there's spots all over the body,' Wee noted. The primary treatment, he said, is to use medicines. These medicines include 'androgen deprivation therapy [ADT], where we lower the androgens, primarily testosterone, because that is the fuel for prostate cancer,' Wee explained. 'In addition to ADT, patients with metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer will also get a second hormone reducing medicine in a pill form, because there have been multiple trials showing that if patients use ADT plus a hormone reducing pill, they tend to live longer than those who get ADT by themselves,' Wee said. 'And in some circumstances, we even add intravenous chemotherapy as a third medicine.' Occasionally, a patient may have testicles removed as well. 'Ultimately, these [treatment] decisions are complex,' Wee said. 'No two cases are the same, and it really involves very careful consideration of a patient's cancer, the patient's health and, most importantly, the patient's values and preferences.' Well-wishes from Biden's peers came shortly after his diagnosis. Former Vice President Kamala Harris extended kind words in an Instagram post, in which she said she and husband Doug Emhoff were 'saddened to learn of President Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis.' 'We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time,' she continued alongside a photo of her and Biden in the Oval Office. 'Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.' And former President Barack Obama shared in a post on X that he and former first lady Michelle Obama were 'thinking of the entire Biden family,' writing, 'Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.' President Trump also reacted to the news on his social media site, Truth Social, stating that he and first lady Melania Trump were 'saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis.' 'We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery,' Trump wrote.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former President Joe Biden diagnosed with 'aggressive' prostate cancer: What to know about the illness and treatment options, according to experts
Former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office announced on Sunday. The Democrat, who was experiencing urinary symptoms, was diagnosed on Friday following the discovery of a nodule on his prostate. 'While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management,' Biden's office said, noting that additional scans revealed that the cancer has spread to Biden's bones. 'The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.' As words of support flooded social media, Biden shared a note alongside a photo of himself, wife Jill Biden and their cat on X. 'Cancer touches us all,' he wrote. 'Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.' Yahoo News spoke to experts about what Biden's prognosis means and which treatments he may choose to receive. The prostate is a male-only organ found below the bladder and in front of the rectum, and it aids in fertility. Prostate cancer is 'the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer death,' behind lung cancer, Dr. William Oh, a genitourinary oncologist and director of precision medicine for Yale Cancer Center, told Yahoo News. 'We know it is a disease of aging and that it is more common as men get older,' said Oh, who does not treat Biden. He also noted that while people with a family history of prostate cancer, as well as African American men, have a higher risk of developing it, 'we do not know what causes prostate cancer.' Prostate cancer oncologist Dr. Christopher Wee of the Cleveland Clinic, who also does not treat Biden, told Yahoo News that 'aggressive' is a 'relative term,' but that health care professionals use it to explain that the cancer is 'more likely to grow and spread than the average cancer.' One measure of how aggressive a cancer can be, Wee said, is the Gleason score. 'The more abnormal the cancer cells are, the higher the Gleason score,' he said, noting that the highest score possible is 10 and the lowest score is six. Biden's Gleason score is a nine, which, Wee said, 'reflects a more aggressive behavior.' According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer when it has spread to other parts of the body is 37%. 'When prostate cancer has spread outside of the prostate, such as to the bone, this is called metastatic cancer,' Wee said. 'Generally speaking, this is not usually considered curable, and it becomes a lifelong disease.' Metastatic cancer is considered Stage IV. While treatment can slow its growth, improve or maintain the quality of life and help patients live longer, it's 'very difficult to get too much more specific than that, because there can be people in whom there's only one bone spot, and there can be people in whom there's spots all over the body,' Wee noted. The primary treatment, he said, is to use medicines. These medicines include 'androgen deprivation therapy [ADT], where we lower the androgens, primarily testosterone, because that is the fuel for prostate cancer,' Wee explained. 'In addition to ADT, patients with metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer will also get a second hormone reducing medicine in a pill form, because there have been multiple trials showing that if patients use ADT plus a hormone reducing pill, they tend to live longer than those who get ADT by themselves,' Wee said. 'And in some circumstances, we even add intravenous chemotherapy as a third medicine.' Occasionally, a patient may have testicles removed as well. 'Ultimately, these [treatment] decisions are complex,' Wee said. 'No two cases are the same, and it really involves very careful consideration of a patient's cancer, the patient's health and, most importantly, the patient's values and preferences.' Well-wishes from Biden's peers came shortly after his diagnosis. Former Vice President Kamala Harris extended kind words in an Instagram post, in which she said she and husband Doug Emhoff were 'saddened to learn of President Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis.' 'We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time,' she continued alongside a photo of her and Biden in the Oval Office. 'Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.' And former President Barack Obama shared in a post on X that he and former first lady Michelle Obama were 'thinking of the entire Biden family,' writing, 'Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.' President Trump also reacted to the news on his social media site, Truth Social, stating that he and first lady Melania Trump were 'saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis.' 'We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery,' Trump wrote.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Yale doctor weighs in on Biden's cancer diagnosis
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, officials say. Dr. Daniel Petrylak, a medical oncologist and prostate cancer specialist at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital, said he was surprised to hear of the former President's diagnosis considering how close Biden's medical state is monitored. 'One thing that may be a wrinkle in this case is the fact that PSA levels with a high grade tumor may be lower than you expect,' Petrylak said. 'Because the high grade tumors make less PSA per cancer cell than the low grade tumors.' Petrylak said Biden's PSA levels may not have spiked, which would have caused the needed medical concern. 'So sometimes the PSA not go up and you may just have the bump or nodule present. That's why it's so important you consult with a physician regularly so you can detect the disease early,' Petrylak said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Exercise can reduce colon cancer rates
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — In today's health headlines, it's colorectal cancer awareness month and this morning we are learning more about new research for survivors to improve life longevity and prevention to reduce rates that are rising among younger adults. Dr. Michael Cecchini, a medical oncologist and co-director of the colorectal program at the Center of Gastrointestinal Cancers at Yale Cancer Center joined Good Morning Connecticut at 9 a.m. to discuss. Watch the video above for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
