Joe Biden Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer: Explained in 10 Key Points

Prostate Cancer: Biden, who left office in January, was diagnosed on Friday after he saw a doctor last week for urinary symptoms.

The cancer is a more aggressive form of the disease, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 out of 10. This means his illness is classified as "high-grade" and the cancer cells could spread quickly, according to Cancer Research UK.

Biden and his family are said to be reviewing treatment options. His office added that the cancer was hormone-sensitive, meaning it could likely be managed.

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Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, the former president’s office announced on Sunday. Here’s an explainer about the disease:

1. The cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive. “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management," said his office.

2. Prostate cancer is usually survivable if detected early, however, it is still the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States.

3. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system and is located inside the body. Its most important function is the production of a fluid that, together with sperm cells from the testicles and fluids from other glands, makes up semen, according to the US National Library of Medicine.

4. The prostate is located directly below the bladder and above the muscles of the pelvic floor.

5. Prostate cancer is a disease in which cells in the prostate grow out of control, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

6. According to Biden’s office, his cancer cells have spread to the bone. That makes it more serious than localised or early-stage prostate cancer, said AP report.

7. “It’s very treatable, but not curable,” said Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center. Hormone therapy is often the preferred treatment at this stage. It can slow the disease’s progression, though it does not offer a cure. “Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy,” Smith added.

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8. After cancer is found, the pathologist will give the cancer a grade. The grade of the cancer describes how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope and how quickly the cancer is likely to grow and spread.

9. According to the statement from Biden's office, the former US President has a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) and metastasis to the bone.

10. The Gleason score can range from 6 to 10. The higher the Gleason score, the more likely the cancer is to grow and spread quickly. A Gleason score of 6 is a low-grade cancer; a score of 7 is a medium-grade cancer; and a score of 8, 9, or 10 is a high-grade cancer.

In Sunday's statement, Biden's office said: "Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.

"On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised 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."

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