Biden's diagnosis

The diagnosis came after Biden reported urinary symptoms which then led doctors to discover a nodule on his prostate. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday.

The exact cause of prostate cancer is largely unknown, however CDC notes that age is a common risk factor. "The older a man is, the greater the chance of getting prostate cancer," CDC says.

Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using what's called a Gleason score. The scores range from two to 10, with scores six and higher being considered cancer. Scores between eight and 10 are considered more aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Biden's office said that his score was nine, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.

"While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management," Biden's office said. "The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians."

When prostate cancers require hormones to grow as they do in Biden's case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones, the Associated Press reports.

In a post on X, Biden posted a photo of himself and his wife, Jill Biden, writing, "Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support."

In a post on social media, President Donald Trump said, "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."

Former Vice President Kamala Harris said on social media that Biden "is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership."

"Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace," wrote former President Barack Obama on social media.

Biden's prognosis

Daniel Lin, a prostate cancer specialist at the University of Washington, said that he "highly doubt[s]" that Biden's urinary symptoms "were due to cancer."

Instead, Lin said Biden's doctor most likely did an exam, noticed a nodule on Biden's prostate, and did a blood test that looks for a protein released by cancer cells.

Lin added that recent advances in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer have changed the picture for men with an advanced form of the disease.

"Life is measured in years now, not months," Lin said.

According to Matthew Smith, of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center, outcomes have improved in recent decades and patients with metastatic prostate cancer can expect to live for four or five years.

"It's very treatable, but not curable," Smith said. "Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy."

Judd Moul, a prostate cancer expert at Duke University, said that men whose prostate cancer has spread to their bones "can live 5, 7, 10 or more years" with current treatments. He added that a person like Biden who is in his 80s "could hopefully pass away from natural causes and not from prostate cancer."

Moul said he sees men Biden's age with Stage 4 prostate cancers regularly and is much more optimistic now than ever before.

"We have a lot more tools in our toolbox," Moul said. "Survival rates have almost tripled in the last decade. I can't fathom how much change has taken place."

Advisory Board's oncology resources

For more insights on oncology, check out these Advisory Board resources:

Growth in demand and costs, as well new technologies and disruptors, will change how cancer care is delivered, experienced, and paid for going forward. This resource outlines four predictions for how the cancer care delivery landscape will evolve by 2030.

Separately, this market insight explains three strategies organizations can use to leverage oncology pharmacists and improve cancer care. Similarly, these ready-to-use slides outline the major structural shifts impacting cancer care, as well as the strategic decisions that oncology leaders will need to make.

You can search through these oncology topics to see more related resources, including service line outlooks, case studies, and more.

(Boak, Associated Press, 5/19; Falconer, Axios, 5/18; Kolata, New York Times, 5/18; Pager/Kolata, New York Times, 5/19)