Former President Joe Biden’s shocking prostate cancer diagnosis has exposed a glaring oversight in his medical care.
The New York Post reported that on Sunday, his team revealed an aggressive cancer that has spread to his bones, a bombshell that left even his closest allies reeling. The news raises a burning question: why was this missed for so long?
Biden’s last Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test was in 2014, when he was vice president under Barack Obama. A spokesperson confirmed this on Tuesday, noting no prior prostate cancer diagnosis before last Friday.
The announcement stunned Biden’s inner circle, with some aides blindsided by the cancer’s advanced stage. White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor conducted Biden’s February 2024 physical, which conspicuously omitted a PSA test. For a man of Biden’s age, this omission is curious at best, reckless at worst.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) advises against prostate cancer screenings for men over 70, citing risks like false positives and overdiagnosis.
Biden, who turned 70 in 2012, falls squarely in this category. Yet, guidelines aren’t gospel, and skipping tests entirely feels like playing roulette with health.
“Before Friday, President Biden had never been diagnosed with prostate cancer,” a spokesperson insisted. This claim, meant to reassure, only deepens the mystery of why testing was neglected. If Biden was healthy then, why not confirm it with a simple blood test?
A long-serving aide speculated, “They probably just didn’t do the test.” The aide suggested O’Connor and Biden avoided a PSA test to dodge the “optics” of a false positive, which could spark a media frenzy. Turns out, dodging the test didn’t exactly keep the headlines at bay.
“I think they decided not to do one because it would likely be elevated and cause a story,” the same aide added.
This logic, prioritizing politics over health, is a head-scratcher. If true, it’s a masterclass in how to turn a manageable issue into a crisis.
Another aide lamented, “That decision is ultimately going to lead to his death.” The irony stings: avoiding a test to prevent a false alarm may have delayed catching a real threat. Actions, as they say, have consequences—and this one’s a doozy.
Dr. Zeke Emanuel, on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” dropped a bombshell: “He had it while he was president.” Emanuel estimated Biden’s cancer began years, perhaps a decade, ago, silently spreading. This isn’t a new problem; it’s an old one ignored.
“He did not develop it in the last 100 to 200 days,” Emanuel clarified. His analysis paints a grim picture of a disease festering undetected through Biden’s presidency. The White House’s silence on testing during those years now looks like a missed opportunity.
The AAFP notes older men face higher prostate cancer rates but are more likely to die from other causes. “The potential benefit of screening is diminished,” their guidance reads. Fair enough, but when the patient is a former president, shouldn’t caution trump statistics?
“Older men experience more harms from screening,” the AAFP adds, citing risks like biopsies and treatments. Yet, the harm of not screening seems to have caught up here. Biden’s case might just be the exception that proves the rule.
A former aide remarked, “Residence staff talk. It would have gotten out.” They suggested O’Connor’s chatty nature and the White House’s leaky culture made hiding a PSA test tricky, so they skipped it. Secrecy over health, though, rarely ends well.
“Doc [O’Connor] isn’t discreet,” the aide added, painting a picture of a physician more gossip than gatekeeper. If true, it’s a damning indictment of the team tasked with Biden’s care. Trust in doctors is hard to rebuild once broken.