Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. As per a statement from his office shared on Sunday, the cancerous growth has spread to his bones. Biden, 82, was diagnosed on Friday after he saw a doctor last week for urinary symptoms.
What stage of cancer has Joe Biden been diagnosed with?
Prostate cancer is a disease where cancerous cells develop in the prostate gland, a small walnut-sized gland part of the male reproductive system. It is a type of cancer that can grow uncontrollably, potentially spreading to other parts of the body.
Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the prostate gland grow out of control. The cancer cells can spread to surrounding tissues and organs, or to other parts of the body.
For Biden, the cancer is a more aggressive form of the disease, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 out of 10. According to Cancer Research UK, this means his illness is classified as "high-grade" and that the cancer cells could spread quickly.
The Gleason score is a grading system that pathologists use to assess the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. The system classifies prostate cancer based on the appearance of cancer cells under a microscope.
The Gleason score ranges from 6 to 10, with higher scores indicating more aggressive cancer. A Gleason score of 9 out of 10 indicates a high-grade, poorly differentiated prostate cancer. It suggests the cancer cells are poorly differentiated, highly abnormal, and likely to grow and spread aggressively. Gleason scores are used to assess the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.
A Gleason score of 9 suggests the cancer is likely to grow and spread quickly.
Currently, Biden and his family are said to be reviewing treatment options. The former president's office added that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, meaning it can likely be managed. The former US President took to social media on Monday to share his gratitude for the support he received from political leaders, his peers, and his family members, writing, “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
Although no update has yet been shared on how the Biden family is going to navigate the treatment of the disease, the ‘Dilbert’ cartoonist has come forward and shared his own journey, claiming that he has the ‘same cancer’ as Biden.
What did the cartoonist say?
Scott Adams, the cartoonist behind the widely recognized Dilbert comic strip, which saw its dramatic decline in publication due to his controversial and racist remarks, shared on Monday that he has received a diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer, similar to that of former President Joe Biden.
During an episode of his YouTube program, "Real Coffee with Scott Adams," he revealed, "I have the same cancer that Joe Biden has," noting that his condition has also led to the cancer spreading to his bones.
In a somber tone, Adams expressed his "respect, compassion, and sympathy" for Biden and his loved ones.
Adams, who disclosed that he is in constant pain and relies on a walker for mobility, projected a grim outlook on his health, suggesting he may not have much time left. "It’s basically intolerable," he lamented, emphasizing the severity of his discomfort.
Reflecting on his situation, Adams mentioned that receiving this diagnosis has provided him with an opportunity to come to terms with his fate, enabling him to say farewell to friends and family, organize his personal affairs, and fulfill the necessary preparations for the inevitable.
What is Dilbert?
The Dilbert comic strip debuted in 1989, cleverly satirizing the quirks and absurdities of office culture. It enjoyed a lengthy run across countless newspapers, becoming a staple in the world of comic strips, until it was abruptly canceled in 2023.
This decision stemmed from outrage over Adams' inflammatory comments, during which he labeled Black individuals as a "hate group" and asserted his refusal to support Black Americans any longer. Although he later claimed his statements were hyperbolic, he stood by his assertions.
In response to his remarks, numerous media outlets across the United States condemned Adams' comments as racist, hateful, and discriminatory, with many deciding to sever ties with his work. The editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, which pulled Dilbert from its pages in 2022, remarked that the comic had transformed from "hilarious" to "hurtful and mean," illustrating the sharp turn in public perception of Adams' creations.
The Dilbert series, which was an adaptation of the comic strip, aired on UPN from January 25, 1999 to July 25, 2000. Adams had served as executive producer and showrunner for the series along with former Seinfeld writer Larry Charles.
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