Former President Joe Biden had his “last known” prostate cancer screening in 2014, yet he was never diagnosed with the disease prior to last week, as stated by his office on Tuesday.
Biden’s aide has provided new insights regarding his diagnosis amid intense scrutiny of Biden’s health during his presidency, along with concerns that the disease could have progressed undetected to a severe stage.
While Biden’s cancer may be manageable with treatment, it has metastasized to his bones, making complete healing impossible.
A brief statement from Biden’s office did not disclose the findings of his 2014 PSA blood test, which stands for prostate-specific antigen.
“President Biden’s last known PSA was in 2014. Before Friday, he had never received a prostate cancer diagnosis,” the full statement read.
The announcement of Biden’s cancer on Sunday elicited a wave of sympathy, but it also spurred comments from various critics, including his successor, Donald Trump. Tuesday’s statement appears to be an attempt to mitigate that speculation.
In a White House appearance, Trump remarked on Biden, saying, “It takes a long time to get there,” expressing his “shock that the public hadn’t been informed much earlier.”
“It’s a very sad situation, and I feel very bad about it,” Trump added.
Notes from the White House doctors following Trump’s Annual Physical Examination in April included findings related to Biden’s regular PSA. This health information was subsequently released by Biden’s White House physicians, as documented in a Health Summary.
While PSA blood tests can lead to unnecessary treatments with potential side effects compromising quality of life, guidelines state that prostate cancer screening is recommended for men over the age of 70. Biden is currently 82.
Early detection of prostate cancer is crucial, yet it remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men. According to the American Cancer Society, men have a lifetime risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Source: apnews.com