Though implausible, the news that Joe Biden—the current 82-year-old United States President—received this diagnosis was true. This grave diagnosis indicates that the disease has metastasized, spreading beyond the prostate and invading other areas of his body. Yet this diagnosis mirrors a larger trend across the United States, where the incidence of prostate cancer is on the rise. In 2025, we should be looking at more than 300,000 new cases of this disease coming out. Tragically, approximately 35,000 deaths are projected.
Rather, Biden’s cancer would have a Gleason score of 9. That classification means that it is one of the fastest growing and most aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Stage 4 cancer diagnosis therefore means that his cancer has spread or metastasized and he needs immediate, aggressive treatment. Here’s why this diagnosis is bad news for the president. It further emphasizes the alarming upticks of advanced prostate cancer in men across the entire U.S.
Rising Incidence of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer continues to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States. The incidence rate has skyrocketed. Between 2017 and 2021, it was growing at a projected rate of 3 percent annually. The increase is especially concerning. It’s being increasingly diagnosed in men, and it’s expected to affect more than 300,000 people by 2025.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in older men. Neither the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force nor the American Urological Association recommend routine PSA screening for men 70 and older. This gap in screening can result in late-stage diagnoses for this age group.
“Metastatic prostate cancer means the cancer has gone outside the prostate and traveled into other parts of the body. The most common locations tend to be lymph nodes and bone. This is essentially considered Stage 4 cancer.” – Hussain
This surge in diagnosis rates is due to the advancement of medical technology and awareness of prostate health. With an increasing number of men receiving this diagnosis, the healthcare community is pushing for early detection and effective treatment solutions.
Treatment Options and Challenges
And although metastatic prostate cancer is sometimes described as incurable, it is still quite treatable. Standard durable therapy consists of a second-generation androgen receptor pathway inhibitor—with or without a regimen of systemic chemotherapy. These approaches seek to first control symptoms and then extend survival for patients who have reached an advanced stage of cancer.
Patients who are diagnosed with the early stages of the disease have a very positive prognosis. They have more than a 99 percent likelihood of surviving at least five years after their diagnosis. After metastasis, treatment efforts are more complicated and time-sensitive.
“It is imperative that everyone who has metastatic prostate cancer has the ability to be treated with those options.” – Agarwal
Dr. Hussain further elaborates on the emotional and physical impacts of treatment:
This last bit of intel is a game changer. These treatments can be quite effective, but they come with side effects of their own including hot flashes, weight gain, and other hormonal shifts.
“I tell my patient this is sort of like menopause in women — andropause, as I call it.” – Hussain
Generally, prostate cancer cases are increasing. Regardless of the route to commercialization taken, experts are calling for continued research to improve treatment outcomes. Dr. Hussain notes that enhancing understanding of cancer can help position it as a manageable chronic disease rather than a terminal one.
The Importance of Research
Even with work underway to create breakthrough treatments to increase patient’s length of life and their quality of life, there are still educational gaps. As social consciousness continues to develop around the injustices of prostate cancer, the call for research funding and support for patients is more important than ever.
“The critical part is going to be more research to try and enhance outcomes and position cancer as more of a chronic disease that — hopefully — will not cause death.” – Hussain
Research efforts focus on developing innovative therapies that can improve quality of life for patients while extending survival rates. As societal awareness grows around prostate cancer issues, advocacy for research funding and patient support becomes increasingly vital.
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