Former President Joe Biden’s last PSA test, a screening to potentially flag prostate cancer, was performed in 2014, according to his spokesperson.
Newsweek reached out to Biden’s office via online form on Tuesday for comment.
Why It Matters
Biden’s health, both physical and mental, was discussed at length during the 2024 presidential election cycle and more recently after excerpts from a new book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, were published by multiple media outlets.
The former president’s announcement has since heightened conversation about transparency and whether his team had been aware of his health issues while in office.
What To Know
The former president said in a press release on Sunday that the week before, he had been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer that had metastasized to the bone.
Biden’s diagnosis is a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5). The scale is from 1-10 and based on the cancer cells’ appearance compared to normal cells.
According to numerous media outlets on Tuesday, citing the Biden spokesperson, “President Biden’s last known PSA was in 2014. Prior to Friday, President Biden had never been diagnosed with prostate cancer.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test used to measure the PSA level in the body.
What People Are Saying
Ashutosh Tewari, director of Mount Sinai’s Department of Urology, previously told Newsweek in part when asked about screenings for prostate cancer: “These tests are there for a long time. And usually, PSA is very effective. And we, if it is abnormal, we can go out and do an MRI scan if MRI scans show something. But even if it doesn’t show something, and if you have a high index of suspicion, you can go ahead and do the biopsy.”
Biden on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
Houman David Hemmati, ophthalmologist and research scientist, posted to X on Sunday: “President Biden’s diagnosis of advanced, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9 and bone metastases is a sobering reminder of how aggressive this disease can be when caught late.”
Hemmati continued: “As a physician and former prostate cancer researcher, I know that while early-stage prostate cancer is often curable, high-grade cases like this require lifelong management. Hormonal therapies can slow progression and improve quality of life—but they are not curative. This is a moment to raise awareness: men over 50 (and earlier for those with risk factors) should talk to their doctor about PSA screening. Early detection saves lives.”
What Happens Next
In the statement on Sunday, Biden and his family said they are weighing treatment options with his physicians.
Update 05/20/25, 5:56 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
