(NewsNation) — Several different factors could determine what kind of long-term prognosis former President Joe Biden faces after being diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer, including his overall health and his general life expectancy.
Dr. Justin Dubin, a urologist with Memorial Healthcare System, told NewsNation many major advances have been made in recent years in treating prostate cancer. Dubin said that determining exactly what kind of future Biden faces moving forward remains challenging at this point. There is reason for hope, he said.
“People can continue to live long, satisfying lives even with metastatic prostate cancer,” Dubin said.
The American Urological Association recommends that men undergo prostate cancer screening between the ages of 45 and 70, Dubin said. However, Dubin said that considering Biden’s high-profile status, it is difficult to know what guidelines were followed and what conversations were had about his health.
Dubin said too many unknowns are present as of now to know whether Biden’s condition was known long before it was publicly announced. Dubin said that in general, a period of five to 10 years is needed for prostate cancer to reach the bones.
“Is it out of the question that they could have found something? Maybe, who knows,” Dubin told NewsNation. “Could something have been (found) earlier? We don’t know.”