Displaying items by tag: prostate cancer

Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. The diagnosis followed recent urinary symptoms and revealed a high-grade, aggressive form of the disease. However, the cancer is hormone-sensitive, meaning it may respond well to treatment. Biden and his family are currently considering treatment options. The news has drawn sympathy from across the political spectrum. Donald Trump expressed support for Biden and his family, wishing him a swift recovery. Other political figures voiced their prayers and confidence in Biden’s resilience. Biden, who stepped down from the 2024 presidential race due to health concerns, has maintained a low public profile since leaving office, though he has given occasional speeches and interviews. A long-time advocate for cancer research, he relaunched the Cancer Moonshot initiative in 2022. His son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015.

A new at-home saliva test assessing genetic risk has shown greater accuracy than the current PSA blood test in detecting prostate cancer, according to a major UK study. The spit test, which evaluates 130 genetic variants to calculate a polygenic risk score (PRS), was found to be more effective at identifying aggressive prostate cancers than traditional PSA testing. Led by Prof Ros Eeles at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, the study demonstrated that 40% of high-risk men flagged by the test were diagnosed with cancer, compared to 25% diagnosed through PSA testing. Moreover, the saliva test detected a higher proportion of aggressive cancers. This non-invasive, inexpensive tool could improve early diagnosis and reduce unnecessary treatments linked to false positives from PSA tests. Researchers are also developing updated versions of the test tailored for men of Asian and African heritage. While further research is needed to confirm long-term outcomes, experts hope the PRS test could soon revolutionise screening for men most at risk, offering better protection and peace of mind.