Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis highlights need for screenings, survivors and experts say
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Former President Joe Biden's recent prostate cancer diagnosis has sparked concern among Americans, but experts say it's also an important opportunity to raise awareness about one of the most common cancers affecting men.
Biden, 82, is reportedly in good spirits following the announcement, though his office confirmed that the cancer has spread to his bones.
Doctors say that while late-stage diagnoses are more difficult to treat, early detection dramatically improves survival rates.
Former President Biden diagnosed with aggressive form of prostate cancer
'It was a complete shock,' retired U.S. Army Colonel Jim Williams, a prostate cancer survivor said. 'A young doctor arbitrarily included a PSA in my bloodwork—and that's how we caught it.'
The PSA, or prostate-specific antigen test, is one of the most common ways prostate cancer is detected.
According to CARTI, an Arkansas-based cancer treatment center, nearly one in eight American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Williams, now more than 30 years cancer-free, credits not just the PSA test, but also a digital rectal exam with helping detect his cancer early.
Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer: What is it?
'Prostate cancer typically is one of these cancers that is asymptomatic for quite a while, until it becomes more advanced,' Dr. Matthew Hardee said. 'That's why screenings are so important.'
Hardee explained that men without a family history should begin routine screenings between the ages of 55 and 70, a relatively narrow window. Biden, at 82, is past that range.
Still, Hardee emphasized that treatment options for prostate cancer have expanded in recent years—even for cases that have metastasized.
'There are many more options now than ever before,' he said. 'Even in situations like President Biden's, where the cancer has spread, there's still hope and a lot of ways to manage the disease.'
Biden's sudden diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer is unfortunately all too common
Prostate cancers are assigned a Gleason score from 1 to 10, indicating how abnormal the cancer cells appear under a microscope. Biden's office confirmed his score was 9, signaling an aggressive form of the disease.
Doctors and survivors alike are urging men not to wait for symptoms, which may not appear until the cancer is advanced. With regular screening and early intervention, many cases can be treated successfully.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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