Joe Biden's Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Raises Questions about Late Identification and Screening

Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis, announced over the weekend, has sparked debate about the late identification of an aggressive form of prostate cancer and the importance of screening, particularly after the age of 70. The 82-year-old former president's office confirmed that he had not had a blood test for prostate cancer for 11 years, despite receiving annual physical exams during his time in the White House.

Key Takeaways:

• Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis was grade nine on the Gleason scale, marking it as "aggressive", which is considered rare for a patient receiving annual check-ups.
• The late identification of an advanced cancer would not be unheard of, even for a former president receiving top-of-the-line medical care.
• Prostate cancer can be caught in its early stages using blood tests that measure for a protein called prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, but annual PSA screening after the age of 70 is not universally recommended.
• The US Preventive Services Task Force advises against annual PSA screening after 70 due to the risk of false positives and the harms from biopsies and treatment outweighing the benefits.
• Joe Biden would have been between 71 and 72 years old when he had his PSA test in 2014, which may not have been sufficient for early detection.
• Questions about the late identification of Joe Biden's cancer have sparked debate about the importance of regular health check-ups, particularly for seniors.

Statistics:

• Joe Biden's cancer is grade nine on the Gleason scale, marking it as "aggressive".
• An aggressive form of prostate cancer like Joe Biden's can spread to the bone.
• 11 years passed since Joe Biden's last blood test for prostate cancer.
• Joe Biden was between 71 and 72 years old when he had his PSA test in 2014.

Sources:

• AP Photo.
• The Telegraph.
• Prof Karl Sikora statement.
• Dr. David Shusterman statement.
• US Preventive Services Task Force.