Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, causing a significant reaction in American society. The sudden announcement has led some to raise suspicions that Biden may have concealed knowledge of his cancer diagnosis.
According to foreign media such as The Washington Post (WP), former President Biden underwent a health examination on the 16th (local time), during which a prostate nodule was discovered, and subsequent biopsy results confirmed the presence of cancer cells, indicating that the cancer has metastasized to the skeleton. Biden received a Gleason score of 9, which is the highest risk level on a scale of 10.
The controversy ignited from the fact that Biden's health records during his administration do not specify his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. PSA is a key indicator used for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer, and high levels typically lead to further diagnostic testing. This has led to claims that Biden may have been aware of his cancer since his presidency, yet intentionally concealed it.
However, a rebuttal has emerged stating that it is common for older men not to undergo PSA screenings, making it difficult to interpret this as immediate concealment. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not recommend PSA testing for men aged 70 and older due to the potential for overdiagnosis and side effects. The American Cancer Society (ACS) also maintains that discussions regarding prostate cancer screenings should be limited to high-risk groups and does not recommend uniform screening across all age groups.
Dr. Michael Morris of the New York Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center said, "Prostate cancer generally progresses slowly and does not threaten lifespan," adding that "it is consistent with guidelines that men over 80 typically do not undergo screenings."
Nonetheless, conspiracy theories suggesting Biden has been hiding his cancer diagnosis for a long time are spreading on social media and among some political circles. Vice President J.D. Vance criticized, "Why don't the public know the exact state of Biden's health? I believe he was already not sufficiently healthy." Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald Trump, also pointed out on social media, "Is it true that Dr. Jill Biden (the former First Lady) was unaware of the terminal cancer? Isn't this also a concealment?"
Biden's health status has emerged as a sensitive issue in politics as he seeks re-election. Following the explosive book "Uncharted" by Chris Whipple published in April, related books igniting the controversy over Biden's health concealment are expected to continue to emerge.
Meanwhile, Biden is expected to undergo hormone therapy that suppresses testosterone secretion. William Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of the American Cancer Society (ACS), stated, "The average survival time for patients with metastatic prostate cancer is 3-5 years, but prognoses may vary based on the extent of bone lesions, presence of liver metastases, and response to hormone therapy."