COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As well wishes pour in for former President Joe Biden following his prostate cancer diagnosis, experts in the field are discussing the situation.

“First of all, it is an unfortunate diagnosis, but at the same time, it’s a treatable one,” Dr. Tariq Khemees, a urologic oncologist with OhioHealth, said. 

Khemees specializes in the treatment of prostate and kidney cancers. Biden is now battling what his office and urologists called an aggressive form of prostate cancer, which has spread to his bones.

“We can get him the treatment that’s going to make his life, I would say, reasonable, but unfortunately, cure is no longer on the table, and we’ve got to set the expectation that this is an incurable disease because it has metastasized to the bone,” Khemees said.

While Khemees described Biden’s diagnosis as sad news, he’s hoping some good, in the form of more knowledge for the greater community, could come from it.

“Survival is nearly 100% when the cancer is localized to the prostate, but once the cancer metastasized, survival drops down to 30%, 32%, so making screenings is very important, so I hope President Biden’s diagnosis will increase awareness of men to get checked and screened for prostate cancer,” Khemees said. 

Prostate cancer localized to the prostate and in early stages usually does not cause symptoms, according to Khemees. He said that makes screening even more important.

“Screening saves lives and the message we should relay to the men in the community is please get screened and let’s get you the help you need so we can beat this cancer together,” he said.

Part of the screening process is a blood test. Khemees said the recommended age to start getting screened used to be older, but it is now 45.