Joe Biden, the former American President, is receiving radiation therapy as part of his treatment for prostate cancer, said his spokesman, as per a BBC report. The spokesman also added that the 82-year-old was undergoing hormone treatment.
The radiation treatment was expected to span five weeks and marked a new point in his care, a source told NBC News.
In May, Biden's office announced that he had been diagnosed with a more aggressive form of prostate cancer, which had spread to his bones. The diagnosis was made after the Democrat politician reported urinary symptoms which led to the doctors finding a small nodule on his prostate.
"He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone," said the Biden office at the time.
"While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management."
The Gleason score of 9 means his illness was classified as high grade and the cancer cells could spread quickly, as per Cancer Research UK.
What are the causes of prostate cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society's estimates, about 313,780 cases of prostate cancer will be reported in the United States. This cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system that helps make semen.
These abnormal growths of cells can be benign or cancerous. Benign growths are not fatal and do not spread to other parts of the body. These can be removed and may or may not grow back. However, cancerous growths are fatal and can spread to nearby organs; while they are removed they can still grow back.
Causes of the disease can be age- over the age of 55, ethnicity- African American men have a higher risk, family history or weight problems.
Symptoms of prostate cancer
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the early warning signs of prostate cancer are rare, but some men experience symptoms beforehand. Here are some symptoms you should be on the lookout for:
Frequent urination, difficulty in urination or hematuria
Difficulty in erection and ejaculation, blood in semen
Pain in the lower back, hips or upper thighs
Swelling in the lower extremities
The two main treatments for the cancer are surgery and radiation therapy, the second of which Biden is currently undergoing.
The radiation treatment was expected to span five weeks and marked a new point in his care, a source told NBC News.
In May, Biden's office announced that he had been diagnosed with a more aggressive form of prostate cancer, which had spread to his bones. The diagnosis was made after the Democrat politician reported urinary symptoms which led to the doctors finding a small nodule on his prostate.
"He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone," said the Biden office at the time.
"While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management."
The Gleason score of 9 means his illness was classified as high grade and the cancer cells could spread quickly, as per Cancer Research UK.
What are the causes of prostate cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society's estimates, about 313,780 cases of prostate cancer will be reported in the United States. This cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system that helps make semen.
These abnormal growths of cells can be benign or cancerous. Benign growths are not fatal and do not spread to other parts of the body. These can be removed and may or may not grow back. However, cancerous growths are fatal and can spread to nearby organs; while they are removed they can still grow back.
Causes of the disease can be age- over the age of 55, ethnicity- African American men have a higher risk, family history or weight problems.
Symptoms of prostate cancer
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the early warning signs of prostate cancer are rare, but some men experience symptoms beforehand. Here are some symptoms you should be on the lookout for:
Frequent urination, difficulty in urination or hematuria
Difficulty in erection and ejaculation, blood in semen
Pain in the lower back, hips or upper thighs
Swelling in the lower extremities
The two main treatments for the cancer are surgery and radiation therapy, the second of which Biden is currently undergoing.
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