Former United States President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an advanced prostate cancer that has metastasised to his bones, an official statement announced by his office on Sunday said. The 82-year-old Democrat is now looking into the treatment options available with his medical team as doctors verify that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which can be treated but not curable despite the seriousness of the diagnosis.

Dr. Chris George, the medical director of the cancer program for the Northwestern Health Network, said to Reuters that prostate cancer is no longer curable once it spreads to the bones, but that there are treatments that can control it. This is not the first time cancer has hit near Biden's family. His older son, Beau Biden, succumbed to brain cancer in 2015, and the loss left a deep mark on the ex-president and influenced his continued push for investing in cancer research.

Gleason Score 9: What It Means For Biden's Health

President Biden's prostate cancer was given a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) — the worst grade on the prostate cancer grading system. It is an aggressively growing and spreading cancer that appears very abnormal under the microscope and spreads rapidly. Doctors explain that such cases can no longer be treated as curable after the cancer has spread, especially to the bones, but the great progress in treatment has made the disease controllable in the long run. “It’s very treatable, but not curable,” said Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center, speaking to The Washington Post. “Patients with hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer can often live four to five years or more with the right treatment.”

Dr. Herbert Lepor, a urologist at NYU Langone, said to Reuters that a score of nine is "very high risk," but added that many men can live "five to 10 years and beyond" even with metastatic prostate cancer. "Over the last decade, there have been many advances in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer," he added.

What Is Prostate Cancer, And Why Is It So Dangerous

The prostate is a tiny gland in the male urinary system that secretes fluid to be used in semen. It is located under the bladder and envelops the urethra, which is the tube carrying urine and semen. Prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer in American men, and one in eight men will be diagnosed during his lifetime. Early-stage prostate cancer can usually be cured, but it is still the second most common cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States. Biden's condition has also moved outside of the prostate gland, into bones, which greatly complicates treatment.

How Doctors Manage Advanced Prostate Cancer

For more advanced cases such as Biden's, the general course of therapy is hormone therapy, a treatment that tries to reduce or block testosterone, the hormone that drives prostate cancer growth. “Surgery or radiation is typically not recommended at this stage,” Dr. Smith explained to The Washington Post. “Instead, we rely on drugs that either lower hormone levels or prevent them from reaching cancer cells,” he added. While hormone-sensitive cancers tend to respond well to such therapy initially, resistance can develop over time, prompting newer drug combinations or clinical trials may become necessary.

Also read: Joe Biden, Former US President, Diagnosed With ‘Aggressive’ Prostate Cancer; Trump Reacts

The news has sparked a wave of responses from political leaders from both sides. US President Donald Trump, a political opponent of Biden, offered a gesture of kindness on Truth Social. “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery," he said. Vice President Kamala Harris also conveyed her regards on X, and said, “Joe is a fighter. I know he will meet this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always characterized his life and leadership.” Former President Barack Obama also came out in support and said, "Michelle and I are sending our best to the entire Biden family. Nobody has done more to advance breakthrough cancer treatments for all its many forms than Joe, and I have no doubt that he will beat this obstacle with his usual determination and dignity."

Biden's office has confirmed that he is in constant dialogue with a team of oncologists and is weighing up several hormone-based treatments. Though the disease is advanced, his medical team is hopeful about being able to deal with the cancer in the long term.

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