President Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to assist Scott Adams, the creator of the “Dilbert” comic strip, in securing a cancer treatment drug as Adams confronts the challenges of metastatic prostate cancer. Adams revealed earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with the condition, which has spread to his bones.
In a recent post on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Adams conveyed his deteriorating health and mentioned that his healthcare provider had approved his application for Pluvicto, a new drug recently approved by the FDA. He expressed frustration over scheduling difficulties for the treatment, stating, “They have dropped the ball in scheduling the brief IV to administer it and I can’t seem to fix that. I am declining fast.” Adams reached out to Trump for assistance to expedite the scheduling of the treatment, which he believes could extend his life.
Trump promptly responded with a message indicating he was “on it.” Additionally, Robert F. Kennedy, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, affirmed that the president is keen to provide support. The White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Dan Scavino, also noted that Trump, Kennedy, and Mehmet Oz, the Administrator of Medicare and Medicaid Services, are monitoring the situation closely.
While the exact nature of the White House’s involvement remains unclear, a statement from Kaiser Permanente emphasized that Adams’ oncology team is actively working with him on the next steps in his cancer care.
Adams announced his diagnosis on his YouTube show, “Real Coffee with Scott Adams,” where he revealed the aggressive nature of his cancer. He expressed solidarity with President Joe Biden, who also disclosed a prostate cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Adams said, “I have the same cancer that Joe Biden has,” and conveyed his respect for Biden as he underwent treatment, including radiation therapy.
Pluvicto, developed by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, is designed to reduce the risk of progression or death in patients with prostate cancer by 28%. The drug combines radioactive particles that target and kill cancer cells with molecules that attach to tumors. Following its recent FDA approval, the number of patients eligible for this treatment has significantly increased.
Gina Carithers, CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, praised the expanded approval of Pluvicto, stating, “Patients with this type of metastatic prostate cancer and their families have long faced limited options and uncertain outcomes. The now expanded approval of Pluvicto is an empowering development for the prostate cancer community.”
Prostate cancer remains a significant health issue, with the American Cancer Society estimating that one in eight men will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime. It ranks as the second-most common cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States, trailing only lung cancer.
The “Dilbert” comic strip, first published in 1989, gained widespread popularity in U.S. newspapers but faced significant backlash in 2023 after Adams made controversial remarks that led to the strip being largely discontinued. Adams later clarified that his comments were intended as hyperbole, asserting that media reports had misrepresented the context.
As Adams seeks urgent treatment, the interplay of personal health challenges and public figures raises important discussions about access to healthcare and the role of influential leaders in facilitating critical medical interventions.
