Biden's Office Denies Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Pre-Dated His Latest Test

Former United States President Joe Biden had not been diagnosed with prostate cancer before last week, with his last known blood test dating back to 2014, according to his office. Critics, including current President Donald Trump, have raised questions about the timing of the diagnosis, suggesting that Biden might have misled the public about his health while in office. The Biden camp's statement came as a response to growing scepticism and allegations of a cover-up. Trump suggested that it was surprising that the public had not been informed about Biden's diagnosis earlier, asking why it took so long for the information to be revealed. Biden's office stated that his cancer had a Gleason score of 9, indicating an aggressive form of the disease that had spread to his bones.

Key Takeaways:

• Biden's last known prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was in 2014, more than a decade ago.
• Prior to Friday, President Biden had never been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• The Gleason score for Biden's cancer is 9, indicating a highly aggressive form of the disease.
• Biden's age, 82, is among the factors that might have led to a delayed cancer diagnosis due to the reduced need for screening for men over 70.
• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical bodies do not recommend regular screening for prostate cancer for men over 70.
• The Biden camp's account of the diagnosis is considered plausible by experts, despite the unusual timing of the diagnosis.
• Certain types of cancer with low PSA production can be missed in blood tests, contributing to the delayed diagnosis.
• Critics, including President Trump, have accused the Biden camp of covering up the extent of his health decline while in office.

Statistics:

• 2014: Date of Biden's last known PSD test.
• 82: Biden's current age.
• 6-10: Gleason classification system for prostate cancer, with a score of 9 indicating a highly aggressive form of the disease.
• 70: Age beyond which regular screening for prostate cancer is generally not recommended.

Sources:

• Al Jazeera: "Trump suggests cover-up of Biden's cancer diagnosis as questions swirl over timing"
• The Institute of Cancer Research in London: Expert Nick James
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles: Urologic surgeon Adam Weiner