Joe Biden and the lesson of a harsh diagnosis: What any man should know about prostate cancer

At 82, former US President Joe Biden revealed a diagnosis that has shaken public opinion: advanced metastatic prostate cancer. Beyond its severity, this news highlights an often ignored reality – prostate cancer is a silent disease, which affects hundreds of thousands of men, including many Romanians, annually.

The good part is that, discovered in time, although incurable, it can be successfully treated, as explains the specialists of the Mayo clinic (one of the most reputed medical institutions in the world) in the video above (See video).

Biden's story reminds us that this condition does not discriminate and that its understanding becomes crucial to any man. What, in fact, is the prostate cancer and why should we all pay attention to the signals they transmit?

Joe Biden, former US President, Symbol of Cancer Struggle Archive Adevărul

What is prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in developed countries and ranks second worldwide, affecting one in seven men. Experts estimate that by 2040 it will become the most widespread form of male cancer globally.

The prostate, a small gland, the size of a nut, located below the bladder, has the essential role of producing the semen. But when the cells of this gland begin to multiply uncontrolled, they can form tumors that invade the surrounding tissues or even spread to other parts of the body, thus triggering the disease known as prostate cancer.

How to manifest prostate cancer and possible causes

In most cases, prostate cancer evolves in the shadow, without sending alarm signals. Apparently harmless in the initial stages, it becomes visible only when the tumor makes its presence felt through symptoms that are difficult to ignore: painful or interrupted urination, the frequent need to go to the toilet at night, persistent pain in the lumbar or pelvic area, unexpected loss of weight or an unexplained blood.

In advanced stages, the disease can metastasize, invading the bones – as happened in the case of former US president Joe Biden.

Although modern medicine has made significant progress, the exact causes of prostate cancer remain partially unknown. However, the specialists indicate as a risk factors the old age, the family history and certain genetic mutations. This is why, in the absence of clear symptoms, periodic tests become essential for an early diagnosis and the real chance for effective treatment.

What is the Gleason score

In evaluating the severity of the disease, doctors use the Gleason score – a 6 to 10 scale indicating the degree of aggression of cancer cells. Biden was evaluated with score 9, close to the maximum possible, a clear indication of the aggression of the disease.

When you need to go to the doctor

Any man over 50 (or over 45, if he has a family cancer history) should do a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test. The test is simple, from the blood, but it has limitations. In combination with a digital rectal control and, possibly, imaging (PET/CT or MRI), tumors can be detected even in the absence of symptoms.

When we have to worry about

If you have:

• Persistent urination issues
• Back pain without a clear cause
• Family history
• Age over 60

… it's time to consult a urologist. Time is an ally only if you act early.

What treatments exist

The treatment varies according to the stage of the disease:

1. For incipient forms: Active surveillance, surgery (prostatectomy), radiotherapy

2. For advanced forms: Hormonal therapy (which reduces testosterone levels – hormone that nourishes tumor cells), chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies

Biden is currently following a hormonal treatment and, according to his doctors, responds positively, exploring other therapeutic options.

What preventive measures can you take

Although it cannot be completely prevented, the risk of developing prostate cancer can be greatly reduced by a balanced lifestyle and regular medical checks. Here are some of the most effective measures you can take:

• Diet rich in antioxidants (vegetables, fruits, fat) and without inflammatory agents
• Avoiding alcohol and smoking
• Regular physical activity
• Regular PSA monitoring and general health
• Maintaining a healthy body weight

Prostate cancer in Romania: a clock bomb ignored by too many

Although it is the second most common type of cancer among men in Romania, after the lung, prostate cancer remains, paradoxically, one of the most ignored. Annually, over 7,000 Romanians receive this diagnosis, but the reality could be even darker: many never reach the doctor in time. The disease evolves silently, and the lack of preventive controls and an effective screening program transforms it into an invisible killer.

Beyond the country's borders, the alarm signals become stronger. The Lancet Commission for prostate cancer warns of a “Silent explosions”: By 2040, the number of cases could reach 2.9 million annually worldwide, and deaths would increase by 85%, reaching almost 700,000 people per year. The growth is already visible in developed countries, such as the US and the United Kingdom, but it is to hit the states with low and medium incomes – including Romania.

And the disease does not forgive: the risk increases with age, and the lack of medical education, combined with distrust in the system, delays diagnosis and drastically decreases the chances of effective treatment.

However, there is a step forward. Starting January 1, 2025, Romanian patients diagnosed with prostate cancer can benefit from two new treatments – bicalutamidum and cyproteronum – recently introduced on the list of compensated drugs. According to the National Health Insurance House, over 3,700 patients would benefit from these therapies, for which the state allocated about 9 million lei annually.

It's a beginning. But in the absence of a national strategy of prevention and education, prostate cancer will continue to attack in silence – and in this struggle, time lost means lost lives.

What do we need to remember in the Biden case

Joe Biden is not the first confrontation with cancer. In the past, the former president defeated a melanoma – an aggressive form of skin cancer – diagnosed in time and successfully treated. Now, in the face of a metastatic prostate cancer, it becomes a symbol of continuous struggle against a disease that does not forgive. His experience shows that the diagnosis is not a sentence, but the beginning of a battle that you can win with treatment, courage and rigorous monitoring.

In the fight with cancer – regardless of form – time is a luxury that should not be wasted. The faster you react, the more the chances of healing. And when it comes to prostate cancer, even the slightest urinary discomfort deserves all. Because longevity is worth nothing without health.

As the researcher William Dahut said: “There are patients with metastatic prostate cancer living 15 or even 20 years. Hope exists.”

Joe Biden can become an example of survival by correct diagnosis and timely treatment. But you can be your own example – if you go to control before the disease decide in your place.