The recent revelation that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with stage-4 prostate cancer has reignited ongoing medical discussions about the appropriate timing for prostate cancer screening in men.
For years, healthcare professionals have debated the ideal age and frequency for prostate cancer testing. Various medical organizations offer differing guidance, and recommendations have shifted over time—even questioning whether screening is beneficial in all cases.
While in office, President Biden received elite medical care that exceeded what is typically accessible to the general public. The White House Medical Unit provides continuous, around-the-clock care, and military hospitals allocate specialized facilities for executive-level treatment. Presidential health examinations are thorough, and portions of their findings are often made public.
Given that Biden is 82 years old and was recently in office, many are questioning how such an advanced form of cancer—already metastasized to his bones—could have gone undetected.
Experts acknowledge that this situation may cause public concern and speculation. However, they emphasize that such cases, while rare, are not impossible. Moreover, although many men are aware of what prostate cancer screening involves, few realize that routine testing is generally not advised at Biden’s age.
Dr. Oliver Sartor, a prostate cancer expert at Tulane University, noted the public reaction. “I’ve already received messages from friends expressing disbelief and suspecting a cover-up,” he shared. “But I explained that there are numerous medical explanations.”
Dr. Bilal Siddiqui, an oncologist and prostate cancer researcher at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, agreed that it is entirely plausible Biden was not undergoing routine screenings.
Medical authorities typically recommend that the decision to screen should be made jointly by a patient and their physician. Furthermore, most health bodies do not endorse screening for men of all age groups.
Prostate cancer is often slow to progress, and in some cases, treatment may cause more harm than benefit. Adverse effects may include urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Because of these risks, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises against screening men aged 70 and above.
Likewise, the American Cancer Society recommends that asymptomatic men with less than a decade of life expectancy not be screened. At 82, Biden exceeds the average life expectancy for men in the United States, which stands at roughly 76 years.
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