Former President Joe Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer
University of Colorado Cancer Center member Dr. Al Barqawi shared insights on former President Joe Biden’s recent prostate cancer diagnosis. Biden, who championed the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative as vice president, was diagnosed on May 16 with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. His Gleason score of 9 indicates a high-grade, advanced disease.
According to Barqawi, metastatic prostate cancer is rare at diagnosis due to routine PSA screening. Only about 7% of cases present in such an advanced stage. PET/PSMA scans are now used to detect the spread, particularly to bones.
Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, like Biden’s, is treated with hormone therapy to block testosterone, though this is not a cure. Over time, the disease often becomes resistant to hormone treatment, limiting options to radiation, chemotherapy, or experimental therapies—with limited success.
Surgery isn’t effective once cancer spreads to bone. Age also impacts treatment decisions, as aggressive treatments come with significant side effects.
Screening is recommended yearly from age 50, or earlier for high-risk groups. PSA levels alone don’t confirm cancer, so decisions often include MRI and history review.
New localized treatments like focal laser ablation, NanoKnife, and TULSA are being explored at the University of Colorado for early-stage cases to avoid complications from surgery and radiation.
Trump’s Confused Comment on Biden and Weather
While en route to a NATO summit, Donald Trump mistakenly blamed Biden for allowing “supercells” into the U.S.—confusing the meteorological term with “sleeper cells” in the context of terrorism. The remark drew criticism and highlighted ongoing concerns about misinformation and U.S. security policy.