Biden’s Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

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Former President Joe Biden had not undergone a prostate cancer screening in a decade prior to his recent stage 4 diagnosis, according to a spokesperson who confirmed this week that his last known test was in 2014.

The announcement offers new context surrounding the former president’s advanced prostate cancer, which has already spread to the bone. Given his access to top-tier medical care, many were left wondering how such a late-stage diagnosis could come without warning.

📊 Why Wasn’t It Caught Sooner?

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among older men, and it’s often detected early through PSA blood testing. However, the use of PSA screening has long been debated due to concerns about overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment for slow-growing cancers.

Back in 2014, when Biden was 72, national guidelines were notably different. At that time, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — an independent panel that advises on preventive care — recommended against routine PSA screening for all men, citing limited evidence that it improved outcomes.

That guidance changed in 2018, when the panel revised its recommendation, suggesting that men aged 55 to 69 discuss the test with their healthcare provider and make a personalized decision based on individual risk factors. For men over 70, however, the panel still advises against screening, citing minimal benefit.

🏥 A Past History, But No Red Flags

A 2019 medical report from Biden’s presidential campaign noted he had been treated for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) — an enlarged prostate that’s common in older men. Importantly, BPH is not cancerous, and studies have shown that it does not increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.

With Biden now undergoing treatment for an aggressive, late-stage form of the disease, public health experts say his case underscores the complexity of cancer screening decisions, especially for older adults.

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