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4d ago

Biden's Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Raises Questions on Screening Guidelines

The former president's advanced diagnosis has reignited debates over PSA testing, early detection, and public health transparency.

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A surgeon sitting in front of screens of a Focal Onedevice performs a robot-assisted prostate tumorectomy using ultrasound imaging on April 10, 2014 at the Edouard Herriot hospital in Lyon, center France. Focal One is the first robotic HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) device dedicated to the focal approach for prostate cancer therapy. According to EDAP TMS SA, a leader in therapeutic ultrasound, it combines the three essential components to efficiently perform a focal treatment: state-of-the-art imaging to localized tumors with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with real-time ultrasound, utmost precision of robotic HIFU treatment focused only on identified targeted cancer areas, and immediate feedback on treatment efficacy utilizing Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging. AFP PHOTO / JEFF PACHOUD (Photo credit should read JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • President Joe Biden, 82, revealed he has metastatic prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9, which has spread to his bones.
  • Biden's last PSA test was in 2014, prompting scrutiny of whether earlier screening could have detected the cancer sooner.
  • The U.S. has seen a steady rise in late-stage prostate cancer cases since PSA screening guidelines were downgraded in 2012, with diagnoses increasing 4%-6% annually.
  • Experts highlight advances in MRI, active surveillance, and biomarkers that reduce risks of overtreatment and improve early detection outcomes.
  • Biden's diagnosis has spurred free PSA screenings and renewed calls for updated guidelines, particularly for older men and high-risk groups.