Biden 'could have had cancer for a long time,' claims expert

Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.

The statement officially came from the 82-year-old’s office on Sunday, after Biden was diagnosed on Friday having seen a doctor for urinary symptoms. Now, one urologist is claiming that it’s possible that Biden has had cancer for a long time.

Former president Joe Biden was forced to withdraw from the 2024 election amid concerns about his health and age. He is the oldest person in US history to have held the office, and after leaving the White House in January, he and his wife, Jill Biden, retreated to their home in Greenville, Delaware.

Concerns about Biden’s health were raised both by political opponents and by Democrats as he ran for a second term as president. Sadly, on Sunday, the former POTUS’ office shared the terrible news that the former president has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, which has spread to his bones. It was discovered after he visited a doctor last week over urinary symptoms.

The cancer Joe Biden has been diagnosed with is reportedly a more aggressive form of the disease. On the Gleason score, it has 9 out of 10, meaning it’s classified as “high grade”. As per Cancer Research UK, the cancer cells could spread quickly. While the cancer is aggressive, Biden’s office stated that it was hormone-sensitive, which means it can possibly be managed.

“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,” the Sunday statement read. “On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.”

Former colleagues and political opponents quickly showed their support for the 82-year-old former president. Although he’s taken aim at Biden repeatedly, President Donald Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social that he and Melania Trump are “saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis.” He continued: “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family. We wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”

Joe Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer

Meanwhile, Biden’s former vice president, Kamala Harris, also sent her wishes. She wrote on X: “Joe is a fighter – and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership.”

Former President Barack Obama, for whom Joe Biden served as Vice President from 2009 to 2017, wrote that he and Michelle Obama are “thinking of the entire Biden family.”

“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery,” Obama wrote.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement: “I am very sorry to hear President Biden has prostate cancer. All the very best to Joe, his wife Jill, and their family, and wishing the president swift and successful treatment.”

So, how aggressive is Biden’s cancer? And can it be cured?

Speaking with the BBC, Dr William Dahut, the Chief Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society and prostate cancer physician, said that if cancer spreads to the bones, they “in general” don’t consider it “curable.” However, he also stated that most respond positively to the treatment, and that one can live “many years” with the diagnosis.

Expert says it’s “inconceivable” that Joe Biden’s cancer wasn’t caught earlier

The sad news begs the question regarding what might have happened if he had ran in and won last year’s election, but something else people will now want to know is what happened during Biden’s medical exams while he was president? One expert in particular has questioned how the cancer was not detected earlier.

Dr Howie Forman, professor of radiology and biomedical imaging, public health management, and economics at Yale, wrote on X that it’s “inconceivable” that Biden’s form of prostate cancer was not caught earlier by doctors.

“It is inconceivable that this was not being followed before he left the Presidency. 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. I wish him well and hope he has an opportunity for maximizing his quality of life,” Forman wrote.

In another follow-up post, Forman questioned whether Biden “really never had a screening these past dozen years” or if he always “had a normal PSA prior to [the age of] 70.” He added, It’s just so odd to discover this with bone Mets in a man of his stature and access to care.”

On Fox News, the network’s senior medical analyst, Dr. Marc Siegel, also questioned why it wasn’t caught earlier.

“This was found by physical examination by a prostate exam. A lot of times, we find an elevation in prostate-specific antigen, PSA, and then we go after it‚” Siegel said, adding that he tests all of his male patients who are older than 45 for the disease.

Biden ‘could have had cancer for a long time,’ says urologist

Others have opinions on how Biden’s cancer could’ve spread without anyone noticing. Another expert claims that the former president could’ve had the disease for years. Speaking with News Nation, Urologist Dr David Shusterman explained that Biden received the best healthcare and was surrounded by some of the world’s best experts while in office.

Shusterman added that the metastasizing cancer Biden has could have taken years to develop to its current state.

“This is what I typically would see in a VA hospital, where a patient hasn’t had medical attention in 10 years, presents to an emergency room with bone pain, and then they find that it’s metastatic prostate cancer,” Shusterman said Sunday.

Meanwhile, US Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., a urologist who treats prostate cancer patients, said it’s possible that Joe Biden didn’t learn that he had cancer until last week.

“To say that he’s being diagnosed with this and it’s being hidden, I think, is wrong. We don’t need to make that leap right now,” Murphy told News Nation. “I think America needs to step back and stop making everything political.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Joe Biden and his family. Please share this article on Facebook to show your support of the former President of the United States.