WASHINGTON D.C. – Former U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent disclosure of an “aggressive” prostate cancer diagnosis, with metastasis to the bone, has reignited a fierce debate over the transparency of presidential health records and raised fresh questions about what his administration knew and when. The revelation, coming after his departure from the White House, has prompted a chorus of medical experts and political critics to scrutinize the timing and completeness of past health disclosures.
Biden’s office announced on Sunday that the 82-year-old received the diagnosis on Friday, following an examination for urinary symptoms. The cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), indicates a highly aggressive form of the disease. This severity, coupled with its spread to the bone, has left many medical professionals puzzled as to how such an advanced condition could have gone undetected during his extensive annual physicals while in office.
“It is inconceivable that Mr. Biden’s cancer was not being followed before he left office,” stated Dr. Howard Forman, a professor of radiology and biomedical imaging at Yale School of Medicine, on X (formerly Twitter). “Gleason grade 9 would have had an elevated PSA level for some time before this diagnosis. And he must have had a PSA test numerous times before. This is odd.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Dr. David Shusterman, a urologist, who told NewsNation that the type of cancer Biden has typically takes years to develop. “To me, it seems very surprising that the first diagnosis would be a metastatic diagnosis,” he said.
These medical observations fuel broader concerns that have long simmered about the level of detail provided in presidential health reports. While White House physicians routinely release summaries of annual physicals, the depth of information, particularly regarding specific tests and potential markers of underlying conditions, has often been a point of contention.
President Donald Trump, weighing in on Monday, questioned the timing of the announcement and suggested a potential cover-up. “I’m surprised that the public wasn’t notified a long time ago, because to get to stage 9, that’s a long time,” Trump stated, though he misstated the Gleason score as a “stage.” Vice President J.D. Vance also expressed skepticism, asking, “Why didn’t the American people have a better sense of his health picture? Why didn’t the American people have more accurate information about what he was actually dealing with?”
The Biden team has not yet directly addressed these specific criticisms, with a spokesperson stating that the former president and his family are reviewing treatment options. In the past, Biden’s closest aides dismissed concerns about his physical and mental acuity, asserting his full capability to perform presidential duties.
It’s important to note that medical guidelines in the U.S. do not uniformly recommend routine PSA screenings for men over 70, given that some prostate cancers are slow-growing and the potential harms of testing and treatment may outweigh the risks. However, the aggressive nature of Biden’s diagnosed cancer suggests a different trajectory.
This latest health development arrives as excerpts from a new book, “Original Sin” by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, have surfaced, reportedly detailing widespread concerns among Biden’s aides about his physical and mental decline during his final months in office. While Biden has publicly refuted claims of diminished capacity, the cancer diagnosis adds another layer to the scrutiny surrounding his fitness for the demanding role of the presidency during his tenure.
The outpouring of support from allies and even some rivals for Biden’s health has been notable, with the former president himself posting on social media: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
Nevertheless, the critical questions surrounding the transparency of presidential health information remain. The advanced nature of Biden’s diagnosis, juxtaposed with prior assurances of his robust health, has intensified calls for a more comprehensive and proactive approach to disclosing the medical conditions of those holding the nation’s highest office. The full implications of this diagnosis, both for Biden personally and for the public’s trust in official health pronouncements, will continue to unfold.