Joe Biden's Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Raises Questions About Screening Age

As President Joe Biden's high-grade prostate cancer advances to stage 4, with cancer spread to the bone, medical experts are raising questions about the effectiveness of annual physicals and PSA tests in detecting cancer in senior citizens. Given Biden's age, medical guidelines do not recommend routine screening for prostate cancer. However, experts argue that this approach can lead to late-stage detection, as seen in Biden's case. This narrative has sparked debate about the balance between patient anxiety and unnecessary treatment, as well as the importance of informed discussions between patients and their doctors.

Key Takeaways:

• Joe Biden's last known PSA test to screen for prostate cancer was in 2014, seven years before he became president.
• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men ages 55 to 69 consider periodic PSA testing in consultation with their doctor, but does not recommend routine screening for men 70 and older due to potential risks.
• Biden's cancer has spread to the bone, and he has a Gleason score of 9 and a grade group 5, indicating aggressive cancer.
• Medical experts argue that even with age, Biden should have received routine screening to detect cancer at an earlier stage.
• Dr. Michael Morris, a Memorial Sloan Kettering oncologist, emphasized that "excellent care means not under-testing. It also means not over-testing."
• Biden's most recent annual physical as president, which did not include prostate cancer screening, took place in February 2024.

Statistics:

• 7 years: The gap between Biden's last known PSA test in 2014 and his diagnosis with prostate cancer in 2022.
• 55-69: The age range recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for periodic PSA testing in consultation with a doctor.
• 9: Biden's Gleason score, indicating aggressive and potentially deadly cancer.
• 5: Biden's grade group, with higher scores indicating a higher risk of cancer growth and spread.
• 70: The age threshold above which the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend routine screening for prostate cancer due to potential risks.
• 4: The stage of Biden's cancer, characterized by cancer spread to other parts of the body.

Sources:

• USA TODAY: Joe Biden's last known blood test to screen for prostate cancer was in 2014, seven years before he became president (no date provided)
• Reuters: Joe Biden's cancer has spread to the bone, and he has a Gleason score of 9 and a grade group 5, indicating aggressive cancer (no date provided)
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Screening (no date provided)
• "Original Sin" book: Details widespread concerns about Biden's mental acuity among aides as he pursued reelection last year (no date provided)