Biden’s Prostate Cancer: What Hormone-Sensitive Diagnosis Means for Treatment

Former President Joe Biden’s recent diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer has raised questions about his health and treatment options. With a Gleason score of 9, indicating a high-grade cancer, and metastasis to the bone, the disease is serious but not without hope. Experts note that the cancer’s hormone-sensitive nature offers a pathway for effective management, as it relies on androgens like testosterone to grow. By reducing these hormones through therapies, the cancer’s progression can often be slowed or halted.

Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer responds to treatments like androgen deprivation therapy, which lowers testosterone levels via injections or pills, a far cry from the surgical methods of the past. Dr. Bilal Siddiqui, a prostate cancer researcher, explains that this therapy typically reduces testosterone by 80-85%, often shrinking tumors or slowing their spread. Monitoring through PSA tests and imaging helps track progress, though there’s a catch: cancers can eventually become hormone-resistant, a shift that may take years but signals a tougher fight.

While Biden and his family weigh treatment options, the diagnosis underscores the importance of early detection. Current guidelines suggest men aged 55-69 consider PSA screening, but some experts, like Dr. Marc Siegel, argue for testing beyond age 70, given the range of treatments available, from hormone therapy to robotic surgery or radiation. As Biden navigates this challenge, his case highlights both the advances in cancer care and the reality that even aggressive diagnoses can be managed with the right approach.