When the news of President Biden’s aggressive form of prostate cancer
If only it had been handled differently, this incident could have served as a valuable learning experience—a chance for the media to inform Americans about prostate cancer and clarify the perplexing and contradictory recommendations surrounding PSA screenings through yearly blood tests.
a prostate cancer survivor
who deeply delved
into the research
Three and a half years ago, after my diagnosis, I pledged as a journalist to penetrate the haze of confusion and incorrect information.
However, once the Biden cancer story emerged, our mainstream media had already been
whirlpooling in sensationalism concerning a book
That suggests Biden had lost his mental faculties during his presidency—or, perhaps even more questionably, prior to that—with those close to him keeping it under wraps. Given that one of the writers is a CNN anchor, instead of featuring an interview with the authors as anticipated, they have received round-the-clock 24/7 media attention.
Certainly, that had the MAGA movement all riled up and spreading conspiracy theories. Then, the announcement about the cancer diagnosis came out, which only added more fuel to the fire of those claiming there was a cover-up.
He needed to be aware that he had cancer.
And everybody hid it!
That is factually incorrect.
However, an excessive amount of the media let this notion spread during the initial 24-hour news cycle. Conservative channels gave airtime to MAGA Republicans who were members of Congress.
Senator Rick Scott
and
Rep. Mike Lawler
to
Rep. Warren Davidson
and
Rep. Ronnie Jackson
Trump’s ex-White House physician.
Donald Trump Jr. promoted
the conspiracy on social media and then
Donald Trump himself jumped into it in a press conference
, showing his mental decline and why he should be the subject of scrutiny, falsely and idiotically claiming Biden had “stage 9” cancer and delayed sharing his diagnosis. (Biden has Stage 4 cancer. His Gleason score for prostate cancer is 9.)
On networks like MSNBC, doctors were brought in who suggested Biden must have been aware of his condition. For instance, oncologist Ezekiel J. Emmanuel stated on MSNBC that Biden “likely” had battled cancer for an extended period.
only later clarifying
to the Washington Post that he didn’t necessarily imply Biden was aware of his own cancer diagnosis.)
Here are the facts to cut through the lies and misinformation. The US Preventive Services Task Force has for years
offered antiquated guidelines
Regarding prostate cancer screening—the PSA test, which involves measuring levels of prostate-specific antigen through a blood sample. The USPSTF remains the benchmark for preventive initiatives within the U.S. governmental healthcare system—until at least Kennedy’s term began and caused significant disruption that continues today.
Based on the recommendations from the USPSTF, individuals with a prostate should start screenings at 55 and cease them by 69 years old—which is considerably younger than President Joe Biden’s present age of 82.
Organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, along with numerous physicians, disagree and recommend starting screenings in one’s mid-forties. They suggest that certain groups, including African-American males and individuals with familial histories of cancer, commence testing at age 40. These organizations further emphasize that people in their 70s who maintain good health and an active lifestyle should make personalized choices about screening after consulting with their healthcare provider. Evidently, if longevity is expected, ongoing regular screening would be advisable.
Why the discrepancy?
There is a concern about overtreatment and the potential harm from unnecessary procedures. Critics argue that screening individuals who are too young could lead them to discover something minor—such as a Gleason score of 6 out of 10—that would not progress into serious disease. This might push younger patients towards treatments that ultimately cause more damage than benefit. Additionally, PSA tests can occasionally show high levels due to various factors, leading to repeated false alarms and potentially avoidable biopsies. Moreover, those aged 69 and older who do develop tumors often face slow-progressing forms of prostate cancer; hence, they are statistically more likely to pass away from another condition before their prostate cancer turns lethal.
However, truly allow individuals to form their own opinions alongside their healthcare providers. Government guidance comes across as overprotective and seems to overlook our advanced medical knowledge, which could ensure that people detect issues early and avoid needing rigorous, extensive treatments later on if identified sooner.
Therefore, considering all this, it’s entirely plausible that Biden adhered to the USPSTF guidelines and ceased screening at the age of 69. This approach would align with recommendations from a U.S. governmental health organization in collaboration with his physicians, rather than indicating any lapse in judgment.
But it’s also quite possible Biden was testing regularly after 69—as many do—and that there was no rise in PSA. In the rare, aggressive form of prostate cancer, PSA often doesn’t rise, and even if it does, the cancer is so fast that it can develop rapidly between screenings—within a year—and go undetected. Some of the media—only on the second day of coverage—
are zeroing in on that
, which should have been readily available to them from the start.
We lack substantial details from Biden’s team and aren’t certain whether he continued annual screenings. What we do understand is that he experienced issues with urination, which could indicate advanced stages of prostate cancer if indeed linked to this condition. Following this, a physician conducted a physical examination and identified a “nodule.” It’s worth noting that individuals should consistently undergo both an annual PSA blood test and a physical rectal exam, as these methods can reveal different findings—one might catch something the other does not.
This might indicate that the PSA test did not reveal anything worrisome, or that Biden hadn’t undergone testing in several years.
In either case, the physical examination clearly indicated the necessity for additional tests, including a biopsy. This revealed a Gleason 9 cancer along with its spread to the bones. They might have additionally conducted a genetic test on the tumor to assess how aggressive it was.
The notion that Biden was hiding this information is contradicted by simple reasoning. If Biden had been diagnosed with stage 9 metastatic prostate cancer four months ago, eight months ago, or even two years ago, wouldn’t he be pursuing treatment?
immediately?
Why on Earth would he choose to wait until after Trump took office or following the election—or anything of that sort—and thereby endanger his own life? It doesn’t make any sense.
And no, to preempt any MAGA enthusiast who might claim he was receiving secret treatments, let’s address his current situation realistically. The androgen deprivation therapy intended for more advanced stages of cancer can be debilitating, causing significant fatigue along with numerous other side effects. When combined with radiation or chemotherapy—or both—these therapies become extremely rigorous and draining for someone at President Biden’s age. It would make him unlikely to appear on “The View” just two weeks ago, where he appeared jovial, engaged, and full of energy.
Now, one last word, about that book. The saturation of coverage across all the media is over-the-top—and for CNN, it’s an abuse of the platform for an anchor to sell books—and shows how our media is so ghoulish and sensational.
Certainly, this tale raises questions about Biden and whether he ought to have stepped down earlier. However, the dramatic assertion that this will damage the Democratic Party for years to come—as certain commentators suggest—is absurd.
This is a tale from within the media industry—
From the very same media that often claims the U.S. audience lacks endurance for lengthy content.
The Republican Party ultimately endorsed an individual who had been indicted four times, impeached twice, and found guilty—a person evidently suffering from significant mental incapacity—and the U.S. electorate chose to support this candidate as well, seemingly disregarding their past actions far worse than those attributed to Joe Biden and the Democratic Party in what appeared to be a massive “cover-up.”
In fact, I don’t wish for this to be the final point. The concluding remark ought to focus on the teachings Joe Biden can impart and the positive outcome that might arise from his current difficult situation: educating the populace. Should you possess a prostate, ensure you undergo testing—and encourage others around you to do so—as early as your 40s and continue through your lifetime. Knowledge is empowerment, enabling each of us to make our own healthcare choices with confidence.
UPDATED, May 20, 2025, 7:06 PM ET
: Biden’s
spokesperson today confirmed
That Biden did not have prostate cancer before he made his announcement and had not undergone a PSA test since 2014, adhering to the USPSTF recommendations. This thoroughly debunks the MAGA extremist conspiracy theories. Additionally, it raises valid doubts about the USPSTF guidelines that advise against screening for individuals aged 69 and older.
