President Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to assist Scott Adams, the creator of the “Dilbert” comic strip, as Adams seeks timely access to a cancer treatment drug amid his battle with prostate cancer. In a post on X over the weekend, Adams revealed that his health was deteriorating and that he was struggling to schedule an infusion of the FDA-approved drug, Pluvicto.
Adams publicly disclosed his diagnosis of metastasized prostate cancer earlier this year, stating that it had spread to his bones. In his urgent post, he emphasized the critical nature of receiving Pluvicto, which he described as a treatment that, while not a cure, has shown promising results for many patients. He directly appealed to Trump for intervention, stating, “I will ask President Trump if he can get Kaiser of Northern California to respond and schedule it for Monday. That will give me a fighting chance to stick around on this planet a little bit longer.”
In response, Trump indicated he was “on it.” Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy echoed Trump’s sentiment, assuring Adams that “the president wants to help.” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino also confirmed that Trump, Kennedy, and Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz were closely monitoring the situation.
While it remains unclear how the White House will facilitate Adams’ access to the treatment, a statement from Kaiser Permanente indicated that Adams’ oncology team is actively working with him on the next steps in his cancer care, which are already in progress.
Background on Prostate Cancer and Treatment Options
Adams disclosed his diagnosis in May during an episode of his YouTube show “Real Coffee with Scott Adams.” In that announcement, he noted that he shares a similar diagnosis with President Joe Biden, who has also been treated for prostate cancer. Biden completed a round of radiation therapy earlier this month.
Pluvicto, manufactured by Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, has been shown to reduce the risk of progression or death in prostate cancer patients by 28%. This innovative drug utilizes radioactive particles to target and destroy cancerous cells while attaching to tumors. The FDA expanded its approval earlier this year, significantly increasing the number of patients eligible for treatment.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the expanded use of Pluvicto is a significant advancement for patients facing this aggressive form of cancer. CEO Gina Carithers stated, “With worsening outcomes after each successive line of treatment, patients with this type of metastatic prostate cancer and their families have long faced limited options and uncertain outcomes.”
Prostate cancer is a serious health concern, with approximately one in eight men diagnosed during their lifetime, as reported by the American Cancer Society. It is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States, following lung cancer.
Adams’ Controversial Remarks and Public Perception
The “Dilbert” comic strip, first published in 1989, became a staple in newspapers across the U.S. However, it faced significant backlash in 2023 after Adams made controversial remarks in a video that many deemed racist. Following the incident, Adams was dropped by a book publisher and his comic strip was largely removed from circulation.
In defense of his comments, Adams later claimed they were intended as hyperbole and that media reports had misrepresented the context. Despite the controversies surrounding him, Adams remains a public figure advocating for his health needs and drawing attention to the challenges faced by individuals with serious medical conditions.
As the situation unfolds, the intersection of celebrity, health care, and political engagement continues to highlight broad issues within the U.S. health system, particularly regarding access to life-saving treatments. The outcome of Adams’ request for assistance could serve as a pivotal moment not only for his personal health journey but also for the ongoing discussion surrounding patient rights and access to necessary medical care.
