Cancer Doctor Weighs In On Biden’s Diagnosis, How Much Longer He Might Live

In comments reported by The San Francisco Chronicle, Sonn said the president will almost certainly be placed on hormone therapy designed to suppress testosterone, which fuels prostate cancer growth. Lowering those hormone levels can shrink tumors and delay further spread. While individual responses vary, Sonn noted that many patients live a decade or longer after a metastatic diagnosis.

The Stanford physician also highlighted how treatment strategies have evolved. What was once a single-line approach has now expanded into combination therapies that pair traditional androgen deprivation therapy with newer drugs that attack the disease on multiple fronts. Those advances, Sonn explained, have added years to life expectancy for many patients.

Sonn also addressed questions surrounding cancer screening and why Biden’s condition may not have been detected earlier. Speaking with The Hill, he noted that routine PSA testing becomes less common as men reach their late 70s and 80s. Medical guidelines generally discourage aggressive screening at advanced ages due to competing health risks and the slow-growing nature of many prostate cancers.

While Sonn is not involved in Biden’s personal medical care, his commentary has helped cut through speculation and panic at a moment when the public is hungry for clear, credible information. His explanations underscore a key takeaway: prostate cancer, even when advanced, is often a long-term medical challenge rather than an immediate crisis. Continue reading…