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Former President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his personal office announced on Sunday. LSU Health Shreveport Professor of Urology Dr. Kevin Hebert says the cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9, has metastasized to his bones, indicating a high-risk, advanced stage.
“It’s possible that he has had this for several years, and it’s possible that they just didn’t diagnose it until currently, and we see that very often in patients we see and treat.”
The diagnosis followed increasing urinary symptoms and the discovery of a prostate nodule last week. While the cancer is hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management, Hebert notes it is not curable once spread to the bones.
“There’s going to be a shift in focus from treatment not necessarily being curative, but still treatment at this state of the diagnosis that he’s at can still prolong his life significantly.”
Biden is reviewing treatment options, which may include hormone therapy or radiation. Hebert says it’s possible that Biden won’t die from prostate cancer despite it being a metastatic disease at this point.
“It’s very possible that he has a very long life ahead of him and that he could pass away from something completely separate from prostate cancer.”
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