Latest news with #Gounder
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Breaking down Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis — here's what to know about the disease
Biden diagnosed with aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer at age 82. The former president's office said he has an "aggressive form" of the cancer, which has spread to his bones. His cancer was categorized as having a Gleason score of 9, which places him in Grade Group 5, the most severe category. Here's what to know about the disease, its symptoms and treatments: Prostate cancer symptoms Most men are diagnosed with prostate cancer before they start showing symptoms, as early warning signs of prostate cancer are rare, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The severity of symptoms can depend on the location of the cancerous cells and how advanced the disease has become. Symptoms can include urinary issues, such as frequent urination, weak or interrupted flow, blood in urine and trouble either holding in or starting urination, according to Johns Hopkins, which says other symptoms can include difficulty getting and maintaining an erection, painful ejaculation and pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs. Urinary symptoms, such as frequent urination or difficulty urinating, are quite common in older men and are usually due to benign conditions like having an enlarged prostate, CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder says. But in this case, Biden's office said his symptoms led to a prostate exam that resulted in the discovery of a small nodule. Further testing determined it was cancerous. Some urologists were surprised that the 82-year-old underwent prostate cancer screening at all, according to Dr. Gounder, because routine screening in men over 75 is controversial. Many prostate cancers at that age are slow-growing, and overtreatment can do more harm than good, she said. Prior to the diagnosis, Biden had received a clean bill of health during a February 2024 physical, in which he was declared "fit to serve" while still in office. His situation underscores the importance of tailoring medical decisions to the individual, Gounder says. The former president had new symptoms and is functionally active, which justified a closer look. Gleason score and what bone metastasis means Gleason scores are a grading system for prostate cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Pathologists grade each tissue sample on a 1 to 5 scale. The lower the grade, the more cancer cells look like normal cells. Each area of prostate cancer may have a different grade, so pathologists pick the two areas that make up most of the cancer. They add the two areas' grades to come up with a Gleason score, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Biden had a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), which is determined by the pathologist who looked at cells under a microscope. A score of 9 is the second highest on the scale, which goes to 10. For scores 8, 9 and 10, the "cells look very different from healthy cells, which is called poorly differentiated or undifferentiated," the Cleveland Clinic said. The categorization suggests a poor prognosis without intervention, Gounder said, but there are treatment options available that can help. Moreover, Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis came with the presence of bone metastases, meaning the disease has spread. It places him within the high/very high-risk management group. Is prostate cancer curable? Prostate cancer is often curable if it's identified and treated early, and many medical advancements have been made in recent years that can help with more severe cases. "The good news is that prostate cancer actually has a lot of effective treatments, and so patients even who are diagnosed with more aggressive, more advanced stage disease, can live many years and have good quality of life," said Dr. Tanya Dorff, an oncologist who treats prostate and other genitourinary cancers at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. In Biden's case — given his age and health — the goal isn't to cure the disease but to control it, to slow progression and preserve quality of life, Dr. Gounder says. Since the former president is reportedly in good functional health, more aggressive treatment is on the table. But these decisions always weigh the benefits against the potential risks and side effects, based on the individual's overall condition and priorities. While Biden's diagnosis represents a more aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office said the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive. This means the cancer should respond to testosterone-blocking treatment, since testosterone fuels prostate cancer growth, Gounder explained. Based on what is known about his diagnosis, the primary treatment would be to block testosterone with a medication like Lupron, she said. This might be combined with other hormone therapies like Zytiga, or even chemotherapy, depending on the specific case. Bone-targeted treatments are also part of the strategy when the cancer has spread to the skeleton, Gounder sadded. Biden is among an estimated 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, according to the American Cancer Society's Cancer Facts & Figures. Approximately 35,770 of them (11%) will die from the disease this year, the organization said. Kiki Intarasuwan Kiki Intarasuwan is a news editor for CBS News & Stations. contributed to this report.
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Can Trump lower prescription drug prices? Here's why U.S. drug costs are so high.
What to know about President Trump's executive order plans aimed at slashing drug prices President Trump signed an executive order Monday that will attempt to bring down the cost of some drugs in the United States — but why are drug prices so high to begin with? On average, Americans pay almost three times as much for prescription drugs as people in other high-income countries like the U.K., Germany or France, according to a 2024 report published by the nonprofit research organization RAND. For some medications, the cost difference is even steeper. A month of insulin, for example, costs about $100 in the U.S., compared to only about $10 in France, RAND found. In large part, this comes down to price negotiations. "You're talking about contrasting us with countries that have essentially universal health care, where you have the government that is paying for everything, negotiating for all the drug prices," Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said Monday. "So when you have one player that's negotiating on behalf of the entire population, you just have a lot more negotiating power." The closest comparison in the U.S. is likely Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people over 65 years old, Gounder said, but that doesn't cover all Americans. Additionally, the ability for Medicare to negotiate drug prices didn't happen until the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law in 2022 by President Joe Biden and it only allows for negotiations of "a small fraction of all prescription drugs," Gounder said. Because the U.S. doesn't have universal health care, "we don't have one negotiator for our drug prices," Gounder said. Most Americans have private health insurance, and the prices they pay for prescriptions are negotiated through Pharmacy Benefit Managers or PBMs. In theory, PBMs should help control growth in drug prices due to their ability to negotiate manufacturer rebates and other cost-effectiveness options, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation that advocates for health equity. "But PBMs have financial incentives that may contribute to growth in drug prices, higher patient out-of-pocket costs, and the closing of independent pharmacies in rural areas and low-income neighborhoods," the group notes on its website. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission called out pharmacy benefit managers — often described as prescription drug middlemen — for benefiting off of inflated drug prices. PBMs wield enormous control over the availability and cost of drugs, the FTC said in a report released in July 2024. In a more recent January report, the FTC said three major PBMs hiked costs for a wide range of lifesaving drugs, including medications to treat heart disease and cancer. Some prices were marked up by hundreds and sometimes thousands of percent, the FTC found. Will Trump's executive order help lower drug prices? It's uncertain if Mr. Trump's executive order can make headway on drug prices, and what drugs would even be affected. Gounder pointed to a similar effort during his first presidency, which only applied to drugs given by providers in hospitals and clinics through Medicare Part B, that failed. "The last time he proposed this in 2020, this was contested in the federal courts and did not hold up," Gounder said. To really change how drug prices are negotiated in the U.S., Congress would need to act, she said. Plus, "Pharmaceutical companies are among the biggest lobbying presences in Washington, D.C. They are, of course, opposed to this," Gounder said. The pharmaceutical industry has argued that lower prices will affect innovation and development of new medicines. "Applying other countries' antiquated approach to how they value — and pay — for medicines will stall investment across America's biotech companies, risk access to vital treatments and cures for millions of American patients, and lead to fewer American jobs," John F. Crowley, president of the advocacy group Biotechnology Innovation Organization, said in a statement Monday. To change how much influence pharmaceutical companies have would also require an act of Congress in the form of campaign finance reform, Gounder said. Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, a national patient advocacy organization, said in a statement that several aspects of the Mr. Trump's order raise questions. "This Executive Order is a step in the right direction, but without additional guardrails, it leaves room for pharmaceutical companies to continue gaming the system at the expense of patients," the statement read. "The reality is: drug companies set high prices in the U.S. because U.S. policy lets them — unlike other high income countries that negotiate lower prices."
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Study finds Ozempic may reverse signs of disease that contributes to 2,000,000 deaths per year
A study has found that Ozempic may reverse signs of a disease that contributes to 2,000,000 deaths per year. New research has discovered that there could be more effects associated with the drug than just weight loss. The study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that medications that are now being widely used for things such as diabetes and obesity have the potential to offer other health benefits. This includes treatment for people with liver disease who have seen positive effects from taking semaglutide, which is popularly sold as Wegovy and Ozempic. The weight loss drugs have been found to effectively treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). MASH is a type of chronic liver disease diagnosed when there is excessive fat build-up in the liver, and at least one metabolic risk factor. The condition can cause liver scarring, cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer. Talking about these health benefits, Dr. Celine Gounder, who is a CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said: 'Almost two-thirds of people had a reduction in liver inflammation related to this fatty liver condition, and over a third had a reduction in liver scarring.' Speaking about the severity of the condition, Gounder added: 'The life-threatening consequences can be very real.' However, things could all turn around Throughout the study, 800 patients were monitored for up to 72 weeks where they documented significant improvements to their liver health while receiving the semaglutide drug. MASH is a major driver of liver cancer, which contributes to two million deaths per year. If the drug proves to be a viable treatment for patients with MASH, this could be life changing. However, despite the fact that study looks promising, Gounder has warned that more research will be needed, specifically longer studies. She added: 'Seventy-two weeks, that's not very long.' Examining the results, the study read: 'In part 1 of our trial, patients who received a weekly dose of 2.4 mg of semaglutide had better results regarding steatohepatitis and fibrosis than those who received placebo. Patients in the semaglutide group also had more weight loss. 'Although formal hypothesis tests were not planned or conducted, semaglutide appeared to be associated with improvements in glucometabolic factors and noninvasive markers of liver health. Changes in bodily pain did not differ significantly between the groups. 'The findings were similar regardless of the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes or obesity and regardless of age, sex, or fibrosis stage.'
CBS News
01-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Ozempic isn't just for weight loss. A new study says it may reverse signs of fatty liver disease, too.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that medications widely used for diabetes and obesity may offer significant benefits for patients with liver disease, adding to the growing list of potential applications for these popular drugs. The research focused on semaglutide, known by brand names such as Wegovy and Ozempic, showing it can effectively treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis — known as MASH — which is a fatty liver condition related to obesity or diabetes. The study followed approximately 800 patients for up to 72 weeks, documenting significant improvements in liver health among those receiving semaglutide treatment. "Almost two-thirds of people had a reduction in liver inflammation related to this fatty liver condition, and over a third had a reduction in liver scarring," said Dr. Celine Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News. MASH can cause liver scarring, cirrhosis, liver failure or cancer, Gounder said. "The life-threatening consequences can be very real," Gounder said. According to Gounder, this development is particularly significant, because up until now, there has not been a specific FDA-approved treatment for this condition. She said that an estimated 17 million Americans have MASH — representing about one in five adults who have fat infiltration of the liver, Dr. Zobair M. Younossi of the Center for Outcomes Research in Liver Diseases, told CBS News. "This is something we can be giving that will prevent these longer-term consequences," she said. The side effects remain consistent with those already known for semaglutide treatments: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and weight loss. While the results appear promising, Gounder cautioned that longer-term studies are needed. "Seventy-two weeks, that's not very long," she said.
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
With cabinet rejig, DMK has its eyes on polls
CHENNAI: While the were driven by legal compulsions, the ruling DMK, however, seems to have utilised the opportunity to its advantage by targeting a slew of things, including the balancing of support bases, averting criticisms and strategically countering the purported consolidation of votes due to the new AIADMK-BJP alliance. Balaji had no choice but to resign due to the Supreme Court's ultimatum, but it is also vital for the DMK that he remains in the political arena even though he is not in the Cabinet. The BJP has long been eyeing the Kongu region, which is where the AIADMK is also at its strongest at the moment. Their alliance won all 10 constituencies in Coimbatore district in 2021, but things changed after the DMK deployed Balaji as minister in-charge of the district. It is noteworthy that Balaji and BJP's former state president K Annamalai hail from the same Gounder caste from another Kongu district of Karur. Their rivalry is not news for observers of the state's politics. During 2021 election campaign, Annamalai, who unsuccessfully contested from Aravakurichi, made unsavoury remarks about Balaji. Balaji later took on Annamalai by questioning the provenance of the latter's expensive watch and challenged him to submit its purchase bill. Annamalai contested from Coimbatore in the 2024 parliamentary election when Balaji was in prison. Balaji's absence in the field could not be leveraged by Annamalai, who lost to DMK candidate by 1.18 lakh votes. The BJP sees Balaji as an impediment to its ambitions in Coimbatore. Balaji's last public event before resigning on April 27 was the self-respect movement's centenary celebration in Coimbatore, in which Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also spoke. At the event, Dravida Iyyakka Thamizhar Peravai leader Suba Veerapandian lauded Balaji with a veiled sarcasm targeting the BJP. He said 'some people' think Balaji should focus only on fieldwork for the DMK. Advocate A Arulmozhi termed Balaji the 'wall' preventing Kongu region from becoming a saffron stronghold. His electricity portfolio has now gone to S S Sivasankar, who belongs to Vanniyar community, another section that the BJP is trying to influence through its ally PMK. Balaji's prohibition and excise portfolio has been given additionally to Housing Minister S Muthusamy, another veteran from Kongu region who was behind the DMK's victories in two successive bypolls to Erode East. DMK veteran K Ponmudy lost not only his party post but also ministership following his recent controversial remarks. His forest portfolio has been allotted to R S Raja Kannappan belonging to Yadav (or Konar) community, which is not adequately represented in the AIADMK and neither does the BJP have a prominent face from the community. The DMK is banking on Kannappan to consolidate the community's votes. With the reinstatement of Mano Thangaraj, Kanniyakumari district has got back its representation in the Cabinet. Sources said the reinstatement of Thangaraj, a Christian, assumes importance in the backdrop of the AIADMK-BJP alliance. Thangaraj and senior DMK functionary from the district Suresh Rajan have buried the hatchet to work together, they said.
