These are the symptoms of prostate cancer and bone metastasis that Joe Biden suffers from.
In Spain, approximately more than 6,000 men die from prostate cancer . This type of disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed in men, as reported by the Prostate Cancer Association (ANCAP). Although an early diagnosis opens the door to surgery and a possible cure, detecting it in late stages can pose a greater risk to the patient and a complicated challenge for professionals. Former US President Joe Biden finds himself in this situation, having been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer with bone metastasis.
This is why doctors are increasingly urging greater awareness of prevention. Recognizing the early symptoms is essential, as early diagnosis increases the chances of survival. However, prostate cancer is often prone to spread to other organs, even reaching the bones.
Symptoms of prostate cancer with bone metastasis
Prostate cancer is a disease in which malignant cells attack the prostate , the fibromuscular gland that forms part of the male urinary and reproductive system and whose main function is to produce seminal fluid, or semen. Prostate cancer, as previously mentioned, is one of the most common cancers in men , and according to the Mayo Clinic , the sooner it is detected, the better the prognosis, since cancer cells tend to spread to other areas of the body, causing metastasis and complicating treatment.
This type of cancer may be asymptomatic in its early stages, but as it progresses, it may present some symptoms that the patient should pay attention to. Some of these signs include:
- Difficulty starting to urinate.
- Frequent urination, often at night.
- Pain or burning when urinating.
- Persistent pain in the back, hips, or pelvis.
- Difficulty emptying the bladder completely.
- Difficulty starting to urinate.
- Appearance of blood in urine or semen.
- Pain when ejaculating.
If prostate cancer has spread to the bones , the pain may become more intense. Furthermore, according to orthopedic oncologist Michael J. Joyce , the patient may experience this discomfort while resting and even at night. At this stage, bone weakness and fractures can occur more easily during activity. But what does bone metastasis really consist of?
What does it mean for a patient to have bone metastasis?Bone metastasis is the spread of some carcinomas to the bones . Although this type of cancer once represented a terminal stage, recent studies show that it no longer represents a final stage , but it is still a very important one.
Prostate cancer is said to have spread to the bones when the tumor cells have managed to leave the primary tumor and migrate to another distant organ. The most common cancers to develop metastases, along with prostate cancer, are breast , lung, kidney, and thyroid cancers.
This is the treatment for prostate cancer
Depending on the type of cancer cells present in the prostate , as well as the patient's other conditions, therapy may vary. For example, in some cases, patients may benefit from hormonal treatments , since prostate cancer is hormone-sensitive and its growth responds to hormonal changes. However, other treatment approaches are also available , including those for bone metastasis:
- Surgery to remove the prostate.
- External beam radiation therapy (EBT) where the radiation beam is directed at the tumor site to destroy cancer cells.
- Active monitoring: doctor-scheduled checkups and routine PSA screenings.
- Brachytherapy: placement of radioactive material into the prostate.
- Bone-protecting drugs such as bisphosphonates and denosumab to reduce bone destruction capacity.
- Orthopedic surgery if necessary due to fracture or spinal cord compression.
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