Former President Joe Biden is suffering from prostate cancer
| Former President Joe Biden is suffering from prostate cancer, an ailment common in Black men Former President Joe Biden has an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer that has spread to the bone, a spokesperson said on May 18.Biden, 82, was diagnosed on May 16. His test results indicate that the former president has one of the worst forms of the disease,” his office said. While the spotlight is on Biden, research shows more than 70 percent of Black men are likely to get prostate cancer, and they are twice as likely to die from the disease. Prostate cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the prostate. The prostate is a small gland that helps make semen. It’s found just below the bladder. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. Signs and symptoms of advanced prostate cancer can include:Accidental leaking of urineBack painBone painDifficulty getting an erection, called erectile dysfunction.Feeling very tiredLosing weight without tryingWeakness in the arms or legs Some high-level Black government officials have died from the disease, and others are still living with it. Colin Powell, former secretary of state under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, was treated for prostate cancer when he was 66. He was 84 when he died of COVID-19. And Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, under President Biden,underwent surgery to combat prostate cancer. The cancer was detected during a recommended health screening Austin had in early December, according to a statement from doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C.  |
| Kareen Abdul-Jabber |
| The disease has also affected sports icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer approximately 11 years earlier. His personal experience with cancer has not only influenced his health journey but also fueled his advocacy for addressing health care inequalities, making him a strong voice for health education and awareness, particularly in the Black community.And that is a good point. There are thousands of Black men affected by the deadly disease. Early detection of prostate cancer supports early treatment and the greater likelihood of a cure. |