Biden Had No Prior Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Until Recent Discovery, Says Spokesperson

A spokesperson for former U.S. President Joe Biden clarified that he had never received a diagnosis of prostate cancer before last week. The update follows the discovery of a nodule and the subsequent announcement revealing Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease.

According to the spokesperson, the last recorded prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test for Biden took place over a decade ago, in 2014, when he was between the ages of 71 and 72.

The clarification came after remarks from Biden’s successor, former President Donald Trump, who expressed surprise that the public had not been informed of the cancer diagnosis sooner. Trump suggested a potential cover-up and questioned the timing of the information release.

The White House announcement on Sunday confirmed the recent detection of the cancerous growth and its aggressive nature. Despite undergoing high-level medical evaluations as a former president, Biden had not been diagnosed with prostate cancer prior to the discovery last week.

“President Biden’s last known PSA test was in 2014,” the spokesperson told AFP. “There was no previous diagnosis of prostate cancer before Friday.”

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. It can often be identified early through PSA blood tests, which detect the presence of a protein known as prostate-specific antigen. Elevated levels may signal a need for further testing.

Former President Trump has often criticized Biden’s health and mental capabilities, intensifying public scrutiny. Following the cancer diagnosis, Trump and his political allies have voiced suspicions regarding when Biden and his medical team became aware of the condition, especially given its late-stage nature.

However, routine PSA testing for men over 70 remains a topic of debate. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises against standard annual screenings at this age, citing potential risks such as false positives, invasive biopsies, and unnecessary treatments that may outweigh the benefits.

Medical professionals interviewed by Agence France-Presse (AFP) stated that late detection of prostate cancer can occur, even in individuals receiving elite medical care, such as a former president.

It is still unclear whether Biden underwent physical prostate exams separately from PSA testing. The announcement has reignited concerns about Biden’s overall health, particularly amid renewed attention brought by an upcoming publication that discusses his reported physical decline.

Despite these developments, Biden expressed gratitude on Monday for the widespread support and messages of goodwill he received after the diagnosis was made public.