Latest news with #healthnews
Al Arabiya
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Trump to call Putin in bid to end Ukraine war; UK and EU strike post-Brexit deal
In this episode of W News, presented by Leigh-Ann Gerrans, we cover a critical day of global developments, from high-level diplomacy to breaking health news. We begin with former President Donald Trump's anticipated phone call with Vladimir Putin—a move aimed at ending the war in Ukraine—just hours after Ukrainian President Zelenskyy meets with the Pope. Next, we examine a major breakthrough between the UK and the EU, as the two sides agree to a wide-ranging new deal, including a 12-year extension allowing EU fishing boats access to UK waters. In the Middle East, we report on Israel's decision to allow limited aid into Gaza to prevent a starvation crisis, even as it launches a ground assault in the Strip. And finally, we turn to Washington, where reports reveal President Joe Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer while still in the White House—raising fresh questions about his health and treatment options.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
CNN host describes timing of Biden's cancer announcement as ‘extraordinary'
CNN host and media pundit Brian Stelter has questioned the timing of former President Joe Biden's announcement on Sunday that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, calling it 'extraordinary' as the news coincides with a series of negative stories about the Democrat's final years in the White House. Biden, 82, received the diagnosis on Friday, according to a spokesperson, after doctors discovered a 'small nodule' on his prostate that required additional evaluation and subsequently determined that the cancer is 'high grade' and has spread to the bone. His representative said the former president and his family are currently 'reviewing treatment options' with physicians. 'The timing is just extraordinary,' Stelter told his network colleague Jessica Dean in response to the development. 'Biden learned of the diagnosis Friday. Well, what was the biggest Biden story on Friday? It was the release of those excruciating audio excerpts from his conversations with Robert Hur back in 2023.' 'You have that [audio release] as one element of the timing here,' Stelter continued. 'And then you have this book coming out… one of the biggest political books in several years.' He was referring to the leaking of audio on Friday from Biden's 2023 interview with Justice Department special counsel Robert Hur about allegations that he improperly stored classified documents at his Delaware home, which revealed the president struggling to remember key dates and details, having to be prompted by his lawyers and speaking in a hoarse, whispering voice. The release of Hur's report on the interview in February 2024, in which he described Biden as a 'sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,' caused uproar among liberals at the time, who saw it as a calculated attack on the president and an attempt to encourage the perception that he was in a state of cognitive decline in order to boost Donald Trump's rival presidential campaign. The book in question is the forthcoming Original Sin by Dean's fellow network anchor, Jake Tapper, and Axios reporter Alex Thompson. It aims to illuminate the conversations behind the scenes that led to the president's historic decision last July to drop out of the 2024 race. This decision paved the way for his Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his stead and, ultimately, lose to Trump in November. Prior to the book's publication, Biden appeared to be attempting to reassert control over the narrative surrounding his legacy. He gave a major interview to the BBC earlier this month and appeared on ABC's The View alongside his wife, former first lady Dr. Jill Biden, much to the annoyance of Democratic strategists keen to move on from their party's humbling election loss. Stelter was not the only pundit to note the timing of the announcement: MAGA activist Laura Loomer wrote on X that she believed it was a 'PR strategy' to shield Biden from criticism arising from Tapper and Thompson's book. Others have reacted more sympathetically to the news, however. President Trump said he was 'saddened' and that he and his wife Melania Trump 'extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.' Former president Barack Obama, whom Biden served as vice president for two terms between 2009 and 2017, paid tribute to his friend's own track record of supporting cancer research since his son Beau Biden died in 2015, while Harris praised him as a 'fighter.'
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
CNN host describes timing of Biden's cancer announcement as ‘extraordinary'
CNN host and media pundit Brian Stelter has questioned the timing of former President Joe Biden 's announcement on Sunday that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, calling it 'extraordinary' as the news coincides with a series of negative stories about the Democrat's final years in the White House. Biden, 82, received the diagnosis on Friday, according to a spokesperson, after doctors discovered a 'small nodule' on his prostate that required additional evaluation and subsequently determined that the cancer is 'high grade' and has spread to the bone. His representative said the former president and his family are currently 'reviewing treatment options' with physicians. 'The timing is just extraordinary,' Stelter told his network colleague Jessica Dean in response to the development. 'Biden learned of the diagnosis Friday. Well, what was the biggest Biden story on Friday? It was the release of those excruciating audio excerpts from his conversations with Robert Hur back in 2023.' 'You have that [audio release] as one element of the timing here,' Stelter continued. 'And then you have this book coming out… one of the biggest political books in several years.' He was referring to the leaking of audio on Friday from Biden's 2023 interview with Justice Department special counsel Robert Hur about allegations that he improperly stored classified documents at his Delaware home, which revealed the president struggling to remember key dates and details, having to be prompted by his lawyers and speaking in a hoarse, whispering voice. The release of Hur's report on the interview in February 2024, in which he described Biden as a 'sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,' caused uproar among liberals at the time, who saw it as a calculated attack on the president and an attempt to encourage the perception that he was in a state of cognitive decline in order to boost Donald Trump 's rival presidential campaign. The book in question is the forthcoming Original Sin by Dean's fellow network anchor, Jake Tapper, and Axios reporter Alex Thompson. It aims to illuminate the conversations behind the scenes that led to the president's historic decision last July to drop out of the 2024 race. This decision paved the way for his Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his stead and, ultimately, lose to Trump in November. Prior to the book's publication, Biden appeared to be attempting to reassert control over the narrative surrounding his legacy. He gave a major interview to the BBC earlier this month and appeared on ABC's The View alongside his wife, former first lady Dr. Jill Biden, much to the annoyance of Democratic strategists keen to move on from their party's humbling election loss. Stelter was not the only pundit to note the timing of the announcement: MAGA activist Laura Loomer wrote on X that she believed it was a 'PR strategy' to shield Biden from criticism arising from Tapper and Thompson's book. Others have reacted more sympathetically to the news, however. President Trump said he was 'saddened' and that he and his wife Melania Trump 'extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.' Former president Barack Obama, whom Biden served as vice president for two terms between 2009 and 2017, paid tribute to his friend's own track record of supporting cancer research since his son Beau Biden died in 2015, while Harris praised him as a 'fighter.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former President Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis: What does a Gleason score of 9 mean?
Former President Joe Biden is battling an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer, his office announced on Sunday, adding his condition is characterized by a "Gleason score of 9." His office also said Biden's diagnosis included metastasis to the bone. Biden's cancer diagnosis comes after a small nodule was found in the former president's prostate after "a routine physical exam" on Tuesday. The discovery of the nodule "necessitated further evaluation," his spokesperson said at the time. MORE: Former President Joe Biden diagnosed with 'aggressive' prostate cancer In February 2023 -- while the now-82-year-old former president was serving in the White House -- Biden had a lesion removed from his chest that was cancerous, according to the former White House physician. Additionally, before entering office, Biden had several non-melanoma skin cancers removed with Mohs surgery. As the world reacts to Biden's medical news, ABC News has broken down what his condition means and what possible treatments can be done. Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the prostate, the small gland in men's prostate that produces semen, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) It is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the U.S., according to the federal health agency. The NIH reports an estimated 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year -- representing over 15% of all new cancer cases. An estimated 35,770 deaths from prostate cancer will occur this year -- representing 5.8% of all cancer deaths, according to the agency. MORE: Trump and other political leaders react to Biden's cancer diagnosis Prostate cancer has a five-year relative survival rate, meaning the percentage of people alive five years after diagnosis, is roughly 98%. Generally, prostate cancer usually grows very slowly and finding and treating it before symptoms occur may not improve men's health or help them live longer. However, it is generally a more treatable type of cancer, even when it has spread further. The Gleason grading system, or Gleason score, refers to how likely the cancer is to advance and spread, but does not predict the outcome. It's way of describing prostate cancer based on how abnormal the cancer cells in a biopsy sample look under a microscope and how quickly they are likely to grow and spread, according to the NIH. The Gleason score is calculated by adding together the two grades of cancer cells that make up the largest areas of the biopsied tissue sample, the NIH says. The grading system usually ranges from 6 to 10. Biden's diagnosis of a Gleason score of 9 indicates his cancer is aggressive. A score of 9 indicates that the cancer cells look very different from normal prostate cells and are likely to grow and spread rapidly. This places the cancer in Grade Group 5, the highest risk category, associated with a greater likelihood of metastasis and a more challenging prognosis. Yet, despite the cancer's apparent aggressiveness, its hormone-sensitive nature offers a viable treatment pathway. While Biden's official treatment plan remains to be announced, possible options for the former president include hormone therapy, or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which can reduce levels of male hormones that can fuel prostate cancer growth. This approach can effectively slow disease progression and manage symptoms, even in advanced stages where the cancer has spread to the bones. Regular monitoring of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels is crucial, as rising PSA levels can indicate cancer activity and help assess treatment effectiveness. Surgery is typically not an option in cases like Biden's, when the disease has spread to the bone and is not confined to the prostate. Following the former president's diagnosis, the American Cancer Society released a statement, saying, "This news is a reminder about the tragic impact of prostate cancer in the U.S." "Early detection is key, and we are concerned given the 5% year-over-year increase in diagnosis of men with more advanced disease. We can and must do more to prevent late-stage diagnosis and death from prostate cancer," the ACS said. Futher resources are available at the American Cancer Socity's 24/7 cancer helpline (1-800-227-2345) and website, Former President Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis: What does a Gleason score of 9 mean? originally appeared on
