President Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week, marking the first official diagnosis, as he had not been screened for the disease since 2014. His last prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which detects protein levels that could indicate prostate cancer, was over a decade ago. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises against routine PSA screenings for men over 70 due to a higher likelihood of dying from other conditions rather than prostate cancer.
At 82, Biden’s advanced diagnosis has raised questions about whether his cancer had been growing undetected during his presidency. Medical experts noted that it is uncommon, but not impossible, for patients to have an aggressive form of prostate cancer that remains undiagnosed for several years. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel observed that Biden’s cancer likely developed and spread gradually over time, while Dr. William Dahut from the American Cancer Society suggested that it was reasonable to think Biden had the condition for many years.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump, now 78, underwent a PSA screening this year, highlighting differences in screening practices among older politicians. Although Biden’s condition is treatable, it is not considered curable, which raises concerns for his health moving forward. While rare, some cases exist where patients may rapidly develop a high-risk variant of the cancer.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
