Biden’s diagnosis highlights little-noticed rise in late-stage prostate cancers
Scientists see a worrying rise in late-stage prostate cancer diagnoses. Experts say prostate cancer screening, once seen as controversial, is beneficial.
The cancer diagnosis former President Joe Biden received was difficult — stage 4 prostate cancer — but has become more and more common in recent years. This trendline, cancer experts said, is not widely known, even among physicians, and points to a need to dispel myths about prostate cancer screening.
If caught early, prostate cancer can have very good outcomes — the 5-year relative survival rate at earlier stages is almost 100%. In the metastatic setting, that drops to 37%. Current guidelines recommend that men from the ages of 55 to 69 have a discussion with their provider about screening, which can prevent advanced prostate cancer. Still, that rise in late-stage diagnoses seems to have continued through the last decade and a half.
