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Biden will be here soon: Former President metastatic prostate cancer
"On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone."
"While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management. The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians," the statement continued.
As a non-American watching the last 4 years from afar, I make no comment.
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There is no conspiracy and no cover-up simply because the public did not have an inherent right to know. That said, the screwed up the messaging. You cannot determine if the cancer is castrate resistant in two days. They were probably concerned about the optics when saying that Biden had been diagnosed weeks or months ago.
Very helpful. And a periodic reminder that prostate cancer doesn't hit every group equally. If you're Black, you should probably start PSA testing much earlier, even around age 40, because it hits people with African ancestry earlier and harder. The previous PSA screening guidelines (before 2012) were based on studying groups made up primarily of white people like me, and Black participants often got lost in the statistical aggregation.
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2 Reactions"Don't you think a simple PSA Test would have caught Biden's cancer long before it got worse!"
Yes, it might have, although the aggressive type of prostate cancer can develop and spread to bones so fast that it sometimes happens between annual PSA tests (as was the case with one of my hospital roommates).
Still, PSA screening is very simple, cheap, and non-invasive blood test (it's not like they have to more-or-less crush a sensitive part of our body in a vice, as happens with women getting mammograms), so there's no excuse for the 2012 recommendation to stop or delay PSA screening. As I wrote earlier, if the problem was overtreatment, then just stop overtreating.
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3 ReactionsMy wife also pointed out that they stop doing PAP smears real early too in a woman’s life- that can add up to Cervical Cancer she told me. Ditto for PCa screening.
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3 ReactionsJust mind-reading here, but I don't think they're concerned about a blood test so much as the can of worms it could open if the result isn't good.
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1 ReactionOf all the frustrating arguments you can have online, this is one of them. It’s just beyond comprehension that a doctor would recommend skipping a PSA test.
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1 ReactionThat is certainly a possible reason if he makes his political future is more important than his prostate health!
Political positions aside, the quote in the article from MD Anderson, "Some cancers go from nonexistent to metastatic in the year between screening tests. Others don’t even show up on a P.S.A. test", suggest that even guidelines for active surveillance may not be enough to prevent some aggressive cancers from moving really quickly.
To me its an additional wake up call to trust but verify the issues in your body regardless of your age as quality of life can be fleeting. My brother had colon cancer 20 years ago, prostate cancer 2 years ago, pancreatic cancer 1 year ago, his spleen removed and part of his pancreas removed. Friday he had his leg removed due to an infection that spread and went from his foot to his leg. He is still surviving. He did not exercise or live that healthy a life. He is 75 and still fighting hard, something I am not sure I could fight through if it were me.
Our medical life needs to be a collaboration. I will question everything with my doctors, regardless of my age. Nobody wants to be in a position that forces them to decide on limited quality of life choices.
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3 ReactionsYes so much news coverage with comments that are discouraging for those fighting this disease. After 10years of PSA testing the count became erratically increasing. 3 biopsies later the Dr used a new test yet to be approved in US but used in Britain and cancer was verified. Removal and local radiation-
16 years later
Bone metastasis. Now on hormone treatment bone treatment Xgeva infusion and Xtandi. First follow-up testing in a couple weeks. Hoping for good result indicating success in this treatment plan. Anyone else using this treatment.
My hubby asked to have his PSA checked about three years ago. His doctor said they don’t usually test at his age, which was 69 at the time. Fast forward three years. Hubby is having urinary issues. Go to his PCP, a new doctor, and asked to have his PSA checked. Doctor said they don’t typically test at his age. Symptoms are usually age related. Well, PSA came back elevated. His prostate is huge, with a volume of 156, and MRI, IsoPSA, and PHI all point to PCa.
His biopsy is next month, and will give us a definitive diagnosis.
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