NYT (“Biden Is Diagnosed With an Aggressive Form of Prostate Cancer“):
Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was diagnosed Friday with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, a spokesman said on Sunday.
The diagnosis came after doctors found a “small nodule” on Mr. Biden’s prostate that required “further evaluation.”
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” the spokesman said in a statement. “The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
BBC (“Joe Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer, his office says“):
Former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, a statement from his office said on Sunday.
Biden, 82, was diagnosed on Friday after he saw a doctor last week for urinary symptoms.
The cancer is characterised by a Gleason score of 9 with metastasis to the bone, his office said, meaning it is a more aggressive form of the disease.
Biden and his family are said to be reviewing treatment options, the statement said. The former president’s office added that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, meaning it can likely be managed.
One of course hopes for the best but not great news, especially for a man of his age. It is certainly survivable, though.
UPDATE: As I reflect on the news a bit more, I gather that this was caught rather later than would have been ideal. That both saddens and surprises me. Biden has, for all but four of the last 50-plus years, been either a United States Senator, the Vice President of the United States, or President of the United States. He held the later post for four years, leaving less than three months ago. Surely, he had the best medical care available. How the hell was this not caught early?
