Joe Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive form’ of prostate cancer. May 2025

[Lilibet]

SBRT is "stereotactic body radiation therapy."

Thank you. I didn’t feel like spelling it out. Researchers have found that SBRT (stereotactic body radiation therapy) is effective for prostate cancer. The advantage is that it’s every other day for 10-14 days instead of the usual daily radiation treatment for 4-6 weeks. Of course the radiation is more intense and certain precautions are taken, but my husband did really well.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer: What to know

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a type of radiation therapy that uses a more focused beam of radiation that allows us to target the tumor more precisely for patients undergoing prostate cancer treatment. Karen Hoffman, M.D., explains how this radiation therapy offers prostate...

www.mdanderson.org

 

[Lilibet]

I wouldn't be surprised if he has been dealing with cancer for a while, let's say the last 5 years and up until recently his body was reacting somewhat positively to treatment. Once he got to this stage, there's just no way of keeping it private, he will need some serious care and there's no need anymore, he isn't President anymore. I seriously hope he and his family are getting the help they need.

And, to be fair, it's not abnormal for people in this type of position to keep the diagnosis private for as long as possible. I'm sure King Charles only made his diagnosis public when he absolutely had to, same thing with Princess of Wales, her diagnosis was made public when people started questioning too much and it wasn't possible to keep it quiet anymore.

If Joe had been treated for cancer for several years, he would have had routine PSA tests. His last one was in 2014.

 

[Charlot123]

If Joe had been treated for cancer for several years, he would have had routine PSA tests. His last one was in 2014.

First, I feel very sorry for former President Biden and his family and wish him to get better soon.

Maybe one day I'd post my dad's experience with his prostate cancer. How from negative digital exam and very low PSA my dad progressed within a year to a huge cancer with a vertebral metastasis (and still low PSA!) is puzzling. But, I have trust in all dad's urologists. We just need to learn more about prostate cancer itself. I wonder whether the existing diagnostic algorithms do not factor in "low PSA - aggressive prostate cancers" forms because they are so rare? But i honestly don't believe that anything was ever missed or mistreated in President Biden. Because, I was checking on all dad's physicals annually, paying for his additional tests during his visits here, he had great care, and yet, we ended up in a similar situation.

In dad's case, radical prostatectomy and antiandrogen therapy were enough and even that metastasis eventually disappeared. By the time he died about 13 years later and from a different diagnosis, prostate cancer was long forgotten.

So, I wish Former President Biden to respond to his treatment as well as my dad had.

President Biden is 82, he has served a very difficult term, and his stress has to affect him, in many ways. The aspects of his health are important. First, to understand how he can be helped, but also, to learn how other people with such condition can be helped as well.

I don't know enough about his health to comment on what i was seeing. Personally, I am very much interested in "pananeoplastic syndromes", including depression and cognitive decline, occasionally observed in all tumors, most common, lung and pancreas. Any tiny tumor can cause it. What's important, treating the tumor reverses the syndrome.

Sadly, the press becomes so weaponized when it comes to Biden that no discussions or questions are feasible.

 

[Mandi3020]

I feel sorry for former President Biden, too. If it is true that the last time he was given a PSA test was back in 2014—eleven years ago—he was the victim of medical malpractice. Typically a PSA is done every 2-3 years. Honestly I would expect one to be done yearly on a President.
His physician has a lot of questions to answer in my opinion.

JMO

 

[Bounceycat]

I feel sorry for former President Biden, too. If it is true that the last time he was given a PSA test was back in 2014—eleven years ago—he was the victim of medical malpractice. Typically a PSA is done every 2-3 years. Honestly I would expect one to be done yearly on a President.
His physician has a lot of questions to answer in my opinion.

JMO

This is not medical malpractice.

https://www.renalandurologynews.com...tinue-to-be-overscreened-for-prostate-cancer/

"The US Preventive Services Task Force advises against PSA screening in men older than 69 years due to the risk of false-positive results and overdiagnosis of indolent disease. The American Urological Association (AUA) recommends against routine PSA screening of men older than 70 years. "

 

[Charlot123]

I feel sorry for former President Biden, too. If it is true that the last time he was given a PSA test was back in 2014—eleven years ago—he was the victim of medical malpractice. Typically a PSA is done every 2-3 years. Honestly I would expect one to be done yearly on a President.
His physician has a lot of questions to answer in my opinion.

JMO

PSA test is negative in 20% of men with prostate cancer. If it is positive, it is a marker of either cancer or of some inflammatory process. If it is negative, it doesn’t rule out prostate cancer.

 

[Lilibet]

PSA test is negative in 20% of men with prostate cancer. If it is positive, it is a marker of either cancer or of some inflammatory process. If it is negative, it doesn’t rule out prostate cancer.

Just to clarify terminology…I think what you are referring to as “negative” would mean that the PSA number had not gone up enough to indicate the possibility of cancer. Doctors look for a significant change from the last test to decide if further testing (MRI or biopsy) is needed. So if the PSA number didn’t change a significant amount, that would be the “negative” you refer to in the 20% of men with prostate cancer.

 

[airportwoman]

PSA is one potential indicator of prostate cancer. It is just a diagnostic tool, just like mammograms or Pap smears.

 

[Lilibet]

PSA is one potential indicator of prostate cancer. It is just a diagnostic tool, just like mammograms or Pap smears.

Exactly. A physical exam and various symptoms would be other indicators.

 

[Charlot123]

Just to clarify terminology…I think what you are referring to as “negative” would mean that the PSA number had not gone up enough to indicate the possibility of cancer. Doctors look for a significant change from the last test to decide if further testing (MRI or biopsy) is needed. So if the PSA number didn’t change a significant amount, that would be the “negative” you refer to in the 20% of men with prostate cancer.

Yes by "negative" i mean "within normal range"

There might be a change, though. It partially depends on the labs, but say, if in my dad's case PSA was around 1 in 2008 and around 2 in 2009, we are talking about fluctuations that are still way below 4, the upper limit (the "normal range might slightly vary depending on the lab). So, from 1 to 2 is an "increase" but also, "a fluctuation within the normal range". If from one year to another it is steadily increasing and next year it would have been 4, then, yes, it might have signaled something... or not as prostate may get inflamed, too.

But what i am saying is that one year, digital exam was normal and the next one, the cancer was huge. (I can add - i asked for a prostate US the first time here, and the doctor said, why spend your own money? The exam is totally normal, the PSA is low, so don't pay for extra, all is fine).

 

[ilovewings]

First, I feel very sorry for former President Biden and his family and wish him to get better soon.

Maybe one day I'd post my dad's experience with his prostate cancer. How from negative digital exam and very low PSA my dad progressed within a year to a huge cancer with a vertebral metastasis (and still low PSA!) is puzzling. But, I have trust in all dad's urologists. We just need to learn more about prostate cancer itself. I wonder whether the existing diagnostic algorithms do not factor in "low PSA - aggressive prostate cancers" forms because they are so rare? But i honestly don't believe that anything was ever missed or mistreated in President Biden. Because, I was checking on all dad's physicals annually, paying for his additional tests during his visits here, he had great care, and yet, we ended up in a similar situation.

In dad's case, radical prostatectomy and antiandrogen therapy were enough and even that metastasis eventually disappeared. By the time he died about 13 years later and from a different diagnosis, prostate cancer was long forgotten.

So, I wish Former President Biden to respond to his treatment as well as my dad had.

President Biden is 82, he has served a very difficult term, and his stress has to affect him, in many ways. The aspects of his health are important. First, to understand how he can be helped, but also, to learn how other people with such condition can be helped as well.

I don't know enough about his health to comment on what i was seeing. Personally, I am very much interested in "pananeoplastic syndromes", including depression and cognitive decline, occasionally observed in all tumors, most common, lung and pancreas. Any tiny tumor can cause it. What's important, treating the tumor reverses the syndrome.

Sadly, the press becomes so weaponized when it comes to Biden that no discussions or questions are feasible.

you make a good point about the media being weaponized when it comes to Biden- and yet, they treat Trump with kid gloves- why do you think that is? it is puzzling

 

[Lilibet]

you make a good point about the media being weaponized when it comes to Biden- and yet, they treat Trump with kid gloves- why do you think that is? it is puzzling

Not puzzling at all. Fear of promised retribution.

 

[ilovewings]

Not puzzling at all. Fear of promised retribution.

That makes sense------

 

[Charlot123]

you make a good point about the media being weaponized when it comes to Biden- and yet, they treat Trump with kid gloves- why do you think that is? it is puzzling

The media reflects the society's state.
The society is atomized. That's where we are.

But about a very specific situation, "president Biden's health", or even "how did we end up there?"...

To be fair, the only person who should be scared IMHO as his name is turning into almost a moniker for too many things, sadly, is probably so-self destructive that a) no retribution is needed and b) any retribution will set up a horrible precedent, and it is probably too well-understood by everyone.

However, too many people in the country are unaware of what happened with that cancer, so everyone can speculate. Why, how, whose fault, malpractice, what's to be expected?

I'd like someone "in the know" to explain to the public. Any unexplained question generates waves. Which we have already seen - today a doctor's Xpost is reposted, and tomorrow former President's cancer will become the product of a TikToker's show.

Instead, the public needs either well-written, official announcement, explaining what happened, diagnostic algorithms and what is usually done now.

If no one wants to go this route, then there is the way of "interviews". It is a very acceptable and appropriate way.

What I don't like about the situation is that the doctors are thrown under the bus. They shouldn't be. They are bound by Hippocrates' oath, but they, i am positive, tried to do the best and have the right to be protected.

 

[sds71]

“All the folks are very optimistic … The expectation is we are going to be able to beat this,” he said of the cancer, at an event in Delaware...

Speaking to reporters after his official remarks, the former US president said he was already undergoing treatment, which he said currently consisted of “one particular pill” a day.

“It’s not in any organs, my bones are strong,” he said. He also said he was under the care of a world-class surgeon who had himself beat prostate cancer three decades ago.

Biden speaks about cancer diagnosis and urges Americans to defend democracy

Ex-president gave speech to commemorate fallen service members and said he had ‘no regrets’ after election loss

www.theguardian.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

“All the folks are very optimistic … The expectation is we are going to be able to beat this,” he said of the cancer, at an event in Delaware...

Speaking to reporters after his official remarks, the former US president said he was already undergoing treatment, which he said currently consisted of “one particular pill” a day.

“It’s not in any organs, my bones are strong,” he said. He also said he was under the care of a world-class surgeon who had himself beat prostate cancer three decades ago.

Biden speaks about cancer diagnosis and urges Americans to defend democracy

Ex-president gave speech to commemorate fallen service members and said he had ‘no regrets’ after election loss

www.theguardian.com

I saw a video clip of Biden as he answered media questions following his speech. He does not look well