AUGUSTA, Ga. () – Following the diagnosis for former President Joe Biden, we’re learning more about what prostate cancer is, and how it attacks the body.

Doctors say that prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men, and it’s the second leading cause of cancer death in men.

It’s an unusual growth of cells in a man’s prostate, typically impacting male’s over the age of 40.

Dr. John Stewart is with the Radiation Oncology sector of Doctor’s Hospital of Augusta.

“It’s diagnosed by a biopsy, like most cancers are. That biopsy tissue is reviewed under a microscope, and the pathologist who’s reviewing that assigns it a grade, or a Gleason Score,” said Stewart.

A statement from the former President’s Office confirms Biden has a Gleason Score of 9, meaning it’s a very aggressive stage of prostate cancer.

Stewart says it’s concerning, but the disease is treatable. 

“We would say it’s manageable, and it’s managed in some cases (especially in older folks) it can be managed like a chronic disease. While not necessarily cureable, it might not necessarily be life-threatening,” Stewart said. “One would expect it to be sensitive to hormone therapy, which can send prostate cancer (even aggressive prostate cancer) into remission—in some cases, for a long time.”

While the Biden family is looking at treatment options, here at home Reverend Christopher Leslie has been battling the disease for two years—getting the diagnosis just days before preaching a sermon.

“My sermon topic was ‘I Choose To Believe’. It was in that moment that God convicted me, and he said to me that you can’t preach this sermon if I cannot walk my faith,” said Leslie. “So that’s when I decided to become an advocate for Prostate Cancer.”

Leslie has now started an organization called “#MenNeedToTalk”.

He says it’s all about giving a voice to other men in the area going through the same struggle.

“I believe that we should bear one another’s burdens, and the way we bear one another’s burdens is by opening up and speaking out,” Leslie said. “I want to get us to the point where we don’t have to whisper. It’s okay to say ‘I dealt with Prostate Cancer’, or ‘I have Prostate Cancer’. When we can remove the shame and remove the fear, then we can get to victory.”

Leslie also expressed his thoughts on the diagnosis for the former President.

“My prayer is that God would usher him through this period just like he has to usher all of us through this period,” he added. “I think that God allows things to happen for a reason. But, I wish we can get to the point as human beings where we can look at life like a communion table, where we can be called to remember what we have in common—instead of concentrating on our differences.”

For prevention, Stewart says the best thing to do is to stay in touch with your primary physician. 

“Because it has spread to the bones, the main stay of the former President’s treatment would be systemic therapy. Something directed at the prostate might not be as beneficial if it has spread to the bones, so you want something that goes all over the body to treat the cancer,” said Stewart.

As for Reverend Leslie, as of last week, his doctor has informed him he is heading in the right direction towards being cancer-free.

“My doctor said, ‘you’re trending towards being cancer-free’. But I told him, ‘I’m just waiting for you to catch up with what the Lord has already told me. I believe by Jesus’ stripes that I’m already healed.”

He and #MenNeedToTalk are planning for another cancer screening event this November.