US Presidents who fought Cancer: Joe Biden joins the list following stage 4 Prostate Cancer diagnosis
Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. This serious development raised national conversations about age, transparency, and healthcare in leadership.
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Biden joins a small but significant list of U.S. presidents who have faced cancer or major health crises. Their stories reflect changing medical practices, evolving attitudes toward privacy, and the personal burdens carried by those in the nation's highest office. As medical advancements prolong lives and reshape treatment options, the expectations placed on public figures have grown. The health of a president, once guarded, now influences public trust, policy direction, and global stability.
George Washington (President 1789–1797)
Although not formally diagnosed with cancer, George Washington's final illness in 1799 involved severe throat inflammation and respiratory distress. Some modern medical historians speculate it may have been linked to a tumor, such as lymphoma or epiglottic cancer, though a severe infection is the more widely accepted cause. Aggressive bloodletting and outdated treatments likely accelerated his decline, revealing the limitations of 18th-century medicine.
Ulysses S. Grant (President 1869–1877)
In 1884, Ulysses S. Grant was diagnosed with throat cancer, most likely caused by years of cigar smoking. Despite debilitating pain, he spent his final months writing his memoirs to provide financial support for his family. He completed them just days before his death in 1885. His determination is remembered as an act of courage and dignity in the face of terminal illness.
Grover Cleveland (President 1885–1889, 1893–1897)
During his second term in 1893, Grover Cleveland secretly underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from the roof of his mouth.
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Fearing economic panic, the operation was conducted aboard a private yacht. The press was deceived, and the truth remained hidden for years. Cleveland recovered fully, but the episode remains a landmark case of presidential secrecy regarding health.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (President 1933–1945)
Franklin D. Roosevelt lived with numerous health issues, including congestive heart failure and paralysis from polio. A lesion above his eye, later believed to have been melanoma, was removed during his presidency, although it was not publicly disclosed.
His condition was largely concealed, reflecting a time when presidential illness was shielded from public scrutiny to maintain national morale.
Ronald Reagan (President 1981–1989)
Ronald Reagan underwent surgery in 1985 to remove a cancerous polyp from his colon. He also received treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers during and after his presidency. Reagan's relatively transparent approach helped promote awareness about colon cancer screenings and early detection, encouraging many Americans to undergo preventive medical checkups.
George H. W. Bush (President 1989–1993)
Though not diagnosed with cancer, George H. W. Bush was treated for Graves' disease, a thyroid autoimmune disorder, while in office. The fact that both he and First Lady Barbara Bush were affected sparked widespread discussion about environmental and genetic factors in autoimmune illnesses and brought public attention to thyroid health.
Jimmy Carter (President 1977–1981)
In 2015, more than three decades after his presidency, Jimmy Carter revealed he had melanoma that had spread to his liver and brain.
He underwent surgery, radiation, and cutting-edge immunotherapy. Astonishingly, he announced in 2016 that he was cancer-free. His recovery highlighted the potential of immunotherapy and inspired hope for others facing late-stage cancer diagnoses.
Joe Biden (President 2021–2025)
In May 2025, President Joe Biden was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. The cancer, a high-grade adenocarcinoma, is hormone-sensitive and may respond to treatment.
His last PSA test was in 2014, raising concerns about screening practices and transparency. Biden's condition renewed national dialogue on aging leadership and medical oversight in the presidency.
These accounts reveal that illness does not exempt even the most powerful. From George Washington's mysterious final hours to Joe Biden's modern-day diagnosis, the way presidents manage and disclose serious health conditions continues to shape public expectations, medical policy, and the broader human understanding of leadership under strain.
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The Hindu
17 hours ago
- The Hindu
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The probability of any American having dementia in their lifetime may be far greater than previously thought. For instance, a 2025 study that tracked a large sample of American adults across more than three decades found that their average likelihood of developing dementia between ages 55 to 95 was 42%, and that figure was even higher among women, Black adults and those with genetic risk. Now, a great deal of attention is being paid to how to stave off cognitive decline in the ageing American population. But what is often missing from this conversation is the role that chronic stress can play in how well people age from a cognitive standpoint, as well as everybody's risk for dementia. We are professors at Penn State in the Center for Healthy Aging, with expertise in health psychology and neuropsychology. We study the pathways by which chronic psychological stress influences the risk of dementia and how it influences the ability to stay healthy as people age. Recent research shows that Americans who are currently middle-aged or older report experiencing more frequent stressful events than previous generations. A key driver behind this increase appears to be rising economic and job insecurity, especially in the wake of the 2007-2009 Great Recession and ongoing shifts in the labour market. Many people stay in the workforce longer due to financial necessity, as Americans are living longer and face greater challenges covering basic expenses in later life. Therefore, it may be more important than ever to understand the pathways by which stress influences cognitive ageing. Social isolation and stress Although everyone experiences some stress in daily life, some people experience stress that is more intense, persistent or prolonged. It is this relatively chronic stress that is most consistently linked with poorer health. In a recent review paper, our team summarised how chronic stress is a hidden but powerful factor underlying cognitive aging, or the speed at which your cognitive performance slows down with age. It is hard to overstate the impact of stress on your cognitive health as you age. This is in part because your psychological, behavioural and biological responses to everyday stressful events are closely intertwined, and each can amplify and interact with the other. For instance, living alone can be stressful – particularly for older adults – and being isolated makes it more difficult to live a healthy lifestyle, as well as to detect and get help for signs of cognitive decline. Moreover, stressful experiences – and your reactions to them – can make it harder to sleep well and to engage in other healthy behaviors, like getting enough exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. In turn, insufficient sleep and a lack of physical activity can make it harder to cope with stressful experiences. Stress is often missing from dementia prevention efforts A robust body of research highlights the importance of at least 14 different factors that relate to your risk of Alzheimer's disease, a common and devastating form of dementia and other forms of dementia. Although some of these factors may be outside of your control, such as diabetes or depression, many of these factors involve things that people do, such as physical activity, healthy eating and social engagement. What is less well-recognised is that chronic stress is intimately interwoven with all of these factors that relate to dementia risk. Our work and research by others that we reviewed in our recent paper demonstrate that chronic stress can affect brain function and physiology, influence mood and make it harder to maintain healthy habits. Yet, dementia prevention efforts rarely address stress. Avoiding stressful events and difficult life circumstances is typically not an option. Where and how you live and work plays a major role in how much stress you experience. For example, people with lower incomes, less education or those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods often face more frequent stress and have fewer forms of support – such as nearby clinics, access to healthy food, reliable transportation or safe places to exercise or socialise – to help them manage the challenges of aging. As shown in recent work on brain health in rural and underserved communities, these conditions can shape whether people have the chance to stay healthy as they age. Over time, the effects of stress tend to build up, wearing down the body's systems and shaping long-term emotional and social habits. Lifestyle changes to manage stress and lessen dementia risk The good news is that there are multiple things that can be done to slow or prevent dementia, and our review suggests that these can be enhanced if the role of stress is better understood. Whether you are a young, midlife or an older adult, it is not too early or too late to address the implications of stress on brain health and ageing. Here are a few ways you can take direct actions to help manage your level of stress: - Follow lifestyle behaviors that can improve healthy ageing. These include: following ahealthy diet, engaging in physical activity and getting enough sleep. Even small changes in these domains can make a big difference. - Prioritise your mental health and well-being to the extent you can. Things as simple as talking about your worries, asking for support from friends and family and going outside regularly can be immensely valuable. - If your doctor says that you or someone you care about should follow a new health care regimen, or suggests there are signs of cognitive impairment, ask them what support or advice they have for managing related stress. - If you or a loved one feel socially isolated, consider how small shifts could make a difference. 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For example, safe and walkable neighborhoods and opportunities for social connection and lifelong learning – such as through community classes and events – have the potential to reduce stress and promote brain health. Importantly, researchers have estimated that even a modest delay in disease onset of Alzheimer's would save hundreds of thousands of dollars for every American affected. Thus, providing incentives to companies who offer stress management resources could ultimately save money as well as help people age more healthfully. In addition, stress related to the stigma around mental health and aging can discourage people from seeking support that would benefit them. Even just thinking about your risk of dementia can be stressful in itself. Things can be done about this, too. For instance, normalising the use of hearing aids and integrating reports of perceived memory and mental health issues into routine primary care and workplace wellness programs could encourage people to engage with preventive services earlier. Although research on potential biomedical treatments is ongoing and important, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, if interventions aimed at reducing stress were prioritised in guidelines for dementia prevention, the benefits could be far-reaching, resulting in both delayed disease onset and improved quality of life for millions of people. Jennifer E. Graham-Engeland is professor of Biobehavioural Health, Penn State. Her email is jeg32@ Martin J. Sliwinski is Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State. His email is mjs56@ (This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here:
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
More concerned about teeth than constituents: Gale Brewer faces backlash over demanding dental care for migrants
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The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
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