Fox News doctor stunned Biden’s aggressive cancer wasn’t caught sooner

It’s a diagnosis no one wants to hear.

And for a medical expert, the details of how it was discovered raised some serious questions.

Understanding the Diagnosis

Former President Joe Biden has reportedly been diagnosed with a “pretty far advanced” and “aggressive form” of prostate cancer.

This information comes via Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel, who discussed the details on ‘Fox Report.’

According to Dr. Siegel, the former president’s cancer is characterized by a Gleason score of 9 and Grade Group 5.

These scores are indicators of how aggressive the cancer cells appear under a microscope.

A score of 9 and Grade Group 5 represent the highest, most aggressive category.

The diagnosis also includes bone metastasis, meaning the cancer has spread to the bones.

This indicates the disease is no longer localized to the prostate gland.

What ‘Aggressive Type’ Really Means

Dr. Siegel didn’t mince words when describing the classification.

“It’s the most aggressive type,” Siegel said. “That means it has the highest risk of spread — which obviously he has had.”

This advanced stage comes with a significantly lower prognosis compared to cancer caught early.

The five-year survival rate for this advanced form of prostate cancer is estimated to be between 30% and 40%.

Additionally, Dr. Siegel noted that Mr. Biden is presenting with urinary symptoms.

While prostate cancer in its early stages is often asymptomatic, urinary issues can be a sign that the disease is more advanced and potentially impacting the bladder or urethra.

Typical Detection Methods

Dr. Siegel explained the standard process for screening and diagnosing prostate cancer.

The initial step is often a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which measures the level of PSA in the blood.

An elevated PSA level can be an indicator that warrants further investigation.

Dr. Siegel stated he performs a PSA test on every male over 45.

While a PSA test isn’t always definitive, a rise in PSA typically leads to an MRI.

The MRI helps visualize the prostate and surrounding areas, guiding the decision on whether a biopsy is necessary.

A biopsy, where tissue samples are taken, is the definitive way to diagnose cancer and determine its characteristics like the Gleason score.

Risk Factors and Prevalence

Prostate cancer is incredibly common, particularly in older men.

Dr. Siegel mentioned that over 80% of men over the age of 80 have some prostate cancer cells.

Age itself is a significant risk factor.

Mr. Biden is 82 years old, placing him firmly in the high-risk age bracket.

“…he’s 82, so that’s a big risk factor,” Siegel said.

Beyond age, other risk factors can include family history and race, although these were not specifically highlighted regarding Mr. Biden in the report.

Given the prevalence and known risks, close screening is often recommended, particularly for individuals in his age group and public position.

Treatment Approaches

For advanced prostate cancer with metastasis, treatment typically involves systemic therapies aimed at controlling the spread of the disease.

Hormone therapy is a common approach, as prostate cancer often relies on male hormones like testosterone to grow.

Medications such as Lupron can suppress testosterone production, while others like Casodex can block testosterone from binding to cancer cells.

Dr. Siegel noted that these medications can have side effects, including fatigue and feeling listless.

Other potential treatments include radiation therapy, which might be used to target specific areas like bone lesions that could be causing pain.

Surgery to remove the prostate (prostatectomy) might also be considered, sometimes in combination with other therapies.

“Sometimes they decide to do more than one therapy,” Siegel said. “They might try to take the prostate out, do radiation and the hormone therapy altogether. That’s not uncommon.”

Managing symptoms like bone pain from metastasis is also a crucial part of care for advanced cases.

“The other thing I’m concerned about is bone pain, because those metastases to the bone can be pretty painful,” he added.

However, it wasn’t just the diagnosis itself that caught the medical expert’s attention.

Dr. Siegel expressed surprise regarding the stage at which the cancer was discovered.

He noted that in most cases caught early, while the cancer is still confined to the prostate, it is often curable.

The goal of screening and early detection is precisely to find the cancer before it spreads beyond the gland.

“This was found by physical examination by a prostate exam,” Siegel said, contrasting it with the typical PSA-driven detection path. “…I mean, he must have had the best possible care here. I’m a little taken aback that it’s this far advanced.”

Given the former president’s access to top medical professionals and likely routine check-ups, the discovery of such an aggressive, advanced cancer via physical exam rather than earlier screening results appeared unexpected to Dr. Siegel.

As Dr. Siegel highlighted, the challenge increases significantly once the cancer has left the prostate gland, making cure much more difficult. “`