Former President Joe Biden had his last known blood test for prostate cancer in 2014, according to a spokesperson, two days after revealing that he has an aggressive form of the disease.
“Prior to Friday, President Biden had never been diagnosed with prostate cancer,” the spokesperson explained.
Biden turned 72 in 2014, which puts him near the end of the typical age range for prostate cancer screenings. Doctors generally advise against routine testing after the age of 70 or 75 because prostate cancer is often slow-growing in older men, and the risks of testing and treatment may outweigh the benefits, according to CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder.
President Trump speculated on Monday about how long Biden could have had cancer, saying he’s “surprised” that “the public wasn’t notified a long time ago.”
The spokesperson stated that Biden’s 2014 exam, which was administered while he was vice president, was a prostate specific antigen test, which is a type of blood test. It is one of two forms of prostate cancer screening, the other being a doctor-conducted digital rectal exam.
Biden had a physical in early 2024, the last year of his presidency. His physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, released a six-page report at the time that made no mention of prostate cancer testing and described him as otherwise healthy.
In 2019, Biden was diagnosed with benign prostate enlargement, a very common condition that affects approximately 80% of men over the age of 70.
The former president was diagnosed with a “aggressive” form of prostate cancer on Friday, his office announced on Sunday. His team revealed earlier this month that a “small nodule” was discovered in his prostate during a routine exam, prompting him to be evaluated.
Biden’s office stated that his cancer has a Gleason score of 9, the second-highest value on the prostate cancer grading system, “with metastasis to the bone.” The statement went on to say, “The cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.”