Prostate Cancer: What to Know About the Disease Affecting Many Men

Prostate cancer is a significant health issue for men in the United States. It's the most common cancer among men, after skin cancer. The good news is that it can often be managed successfully. This is especially true if it's caught early. However, the story changes when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, like the bones. This is what has happened in the case of former President Joe Biden. He was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. Despite this, his doctors say the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which means it can be managed effectively. The Gleason score is a common way to grade prostate cancer. It looks at how quickly the cancer cells can grow. Scores range from 6 to 10, with 8 and above being high-risk. Biden's score is 9, which puts him in the high-risk category. But even with this diagnosis, there are treatment options. These include hormonal treatments, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Each of these can help manage the cancer and extend life. For example, hormonal treatments can slow down the growth of the cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have also been shown to extend life in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Age is a risk factor for prostate cancer, but it's not the only one. Race and family history also play a role. The disease is more common in Black men and Caribbean men of African ancestry. It usually develops after age 50, with about 6 in 10 cases found in men over 65. Screening for prostate cancer typically involves a blood test and a digital rectal exam. Guidelines vary on when men should start talking to their doctor about screening. The American Cancer Society recommends age 50 for men at average risk, 45 for those at high risk, and 40 for those with a strong family history. The U. S. Preventive Services Task Force, on the other hand, recommends screening for men aged 55 to 69. They advise against routine screening for most men older than that, partly because many prostate cancers found at that age grow slowly and don't cause much pain. Prostate cancer research has made significant strides in recent years. Advances in diagnosis and treatment have extended lives. This is important because, while the prostate cancer death rate has decreased, the number of cases diagnosed each year has increased. This is likely due to a rise in cancers found at a later stage. Biden himself has been a champion in the fight against cancer. He led the Cancer Moonshot initiative as vice president and relaunched it as president. The goal is to make a decade's worth of progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in just five years. However, federal funding for scientific research has faced challenges. A recent report found that the White House cut cancer research by 31% in the first three months of this year. This could hamper the fight against cancer and other diseases. The diagnosis of prostate cancer can be scary, but it's important to remember that it's often treatable. Early detection and effective management can make a big difference. Men should talk to their doctors about screening and stay informed about their health. This is especially true as they get older. After all, knowledge is power when it comes to fighting cancer.