Former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer at an age when most men are still healthy enough to handle treatments, according to Dr. Thomas Reid, who is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology.
Reid disagrees with guidelines from national medical groups that recommend stopping PSA tests for prostate cancer after age 70, citing the low survival rate of stage four cancer. “The chance of getting prostate cancer between 50-59 is about one in 52, while a 60% chance exists for those over 70,” he said.
Given the average lifespan of an American male at age 70 is still around 14 years, Reid believes it’s appalling that a diagnosis came so late. He also questions the recommendations from organizations like the American Urological Association and United States Preventive Services Task Force, which don’t provide PSA tests for men over 70.
Reid claims these guidelines “are part science, part touchy-feely and a big dollop of hand-wringing” and fails to account for doctors’ ability to determine patients’ health. He instead follows his own approach by assessing the PSA test level to decide whether a biopsy is needed. The five-year survival rate for stage one and two cancer is 100%, while stage four has an only about 37% chance of survival, highlighting the importance of regular testing.
Reid’s comments are a call to action to re-evaluate these guidelines, which he believes will prevent cases like President Biden’s from happening.
Source: https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/cody-cancer-doc-dont-stop-testing-at-age-70,168081