(Reuters) -Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office said in a statement on Sunday.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER:
Prostate cancer starts in the prostate, a small gland that produces semen fluid. It is one of the most common cancers in men, who can live for decades without symptoms or needing treatment because it often grows slowly.
In the U.S., it is the most diagnosed cancer in men after skin cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. About 1-in-8 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Most cases are classified as acinar adenocarcinomas, which usually grow slowly, though some can be aggressive. Early diagnosis helps with survival rates.
HOW COMMON IS PROSTATE CANCER?
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the United States for 2025 are about 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer and about 35,770 deaths from prostate cancer.
The number of prostate cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year declined sharply from 2007 to 2014, coinciding with fewer men being screened because of changes in screening recommendations. Since 2014, however, the incidence rate has increased by 3% per year.
RISK FACTORS:
Researchers have found some factors that can affect prostate cancer risk: older age, ethnicity, and family history.
SYMPTOMS:
Prostate cancer symptoms can include changes in urination, erectile dysfunction, blood in urine or semen, and in some cases, bone pain or fatigue.
HOW IS PROSTATE CANCER TREATED?
Prostate cancer treatment varies by case and may include surgery, radiation, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted drugs.
COMPLICATIONS:
When cancer spreads, it usually reaches the bones first. Bone metastasis can cause severe pain, fractures, spinal cord compression, and dangerous calcium levels. Managing these complications is crucial. While standard therapies help, additional treatments specifically target bone-related issues.
WHAT ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN?
Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer with metastasis to the bone, and he and his family are reviewing treatment options, his office said. Cancers that have spread, or metastasized, are considered Stage 4, the most advanced.
Biden’s office on Sunday added that the cancer scored a nine out of 10 on the Gleason score grading system, at the top end of the system used to help determine the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.
DEATHS FROM PROSTATE CANCER:
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among American men, with 1 in 44 dying from it. While it can be serious, most men diagnosed with it survive. From 1993 to 2022, the death rate dropped by half, thanks to early detection and better treatment. However, this decline has recently slowed as more cases are being found at advanced stages. According to the WHO, in 2022, prostate cancer caused 21,819 deaths in the United States in men over the age of 75.
Source: American Cancer Society, Cancer Research UK, WHO data platform.
(Reporting by Chandini Monnappa in Bengaluru; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
