Ex-President Joe Biden is grappling with a serious medical issue, as he confronts a battle with aggressive prostate cancer at the age of 82. Sadly, this isn’t his first battle with the deadly disease. This time, however, it has returned with a vengeance that is surprising for even a seasoned campaigner like Biden.
The cancer has reportedly spread to his bones, as confirmed by his office. On May 18, the office further elucidated the severity of his condition with a ‘Gleason score of 9’. This is indicative of an ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer. It’s disappointing that even though this is a particularly aggressive manifestation of the disease, Biden’s office tries to shed a positive light being ‘hormone-sensitive,’ implying manageable treatment.
Unfortunately, this diagnosis came after a normal physical examination exposed a tiny mass in ex-POTUS’s prostate, set in motion further assessment. This discovery led Biden and his family to study possible treatment paths with medical professionals. A grim fact to consider is that prostate cancer is the second principal cause of cancer deaths among males in the U.S.
While serving as President in February 2023, Biden had to undergo an operation to extract a cancerous growth from his chest. White House doctors at that time declared it was basal cell carcinoma, yet they insisted it didn’t necessitate subsequent treatment. It becomes quite clear how Biden’s health has been a constant concern, even during his presidency.
Back in 2021, Biden had to go through a colonoscopy to eliminate a ‘benign, slow-forming but supposedly precancerous growth’ from his colon. Apparently, he and his office felt this was not worth publicizing — perhaps this was an oversight, or was it a conscious decision to omit news that could place the President’s health in question?
Dr. Zeke Emanuel, a highly credentialed oncologist and advisor for health policy during the Obama administration, provided some shocking insights. Emanuel opined that the 46th president ‘didn’t develop [prostate cancer] in the last 100 or 200 days.’ Rather, he’s likely had the disease since 2021, from the early days of his presidency.
In a surprising revelation, Dr. Zeke conveyed his belief that Biden ‘had this [cancer] for many years, maybe even prior to a decade, gradually spreading.’ Despite these assumptions, Biden’s medical records did not illustrate any sign that his health status was below optimum. It is unsettling how a disease of this gravity was undetected or unreported.
Moreover, Dr. Zeke mentioned that it was ‘somewhat perplexing’ to many oncologists that Biden wasn’t diagnosed earlier. Is it incompetence or was it another ‘oversight’? These sorts of crucial health information are things a nation should be privy to when choosing their leader.
Among these health calamities, Jill Biden, had to undergo surgical procedures to remove basal cell carcinoma identified during a routine skin cancer screening in 2023. The locations were reported to be above her right eye and on the left side of her chest. The couple appears to have health issues that they have chosen not to disclose, causing the public to question their transparency.
In the midst of Biden’s health crisis, Kamala Harris articulated that she and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were ‘disheartened to find out about Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis.’ Even though their intentions seemed compassionate, there was undoubtedly a subtext that Harris might have been waiting in the wings, ready to take over the reigns.
Emhoff also expressed his ‘love and strength’ to Biden. Though it can be viewed as a plea for sympathy, it was a clear indication of political dynamics shifting due to Biden’s deteriorating health. Surely, both Harris and Emhoff could sense the chance to ascend the political ladder.
Meanwhile, Barack Obama conveyed that he and his spouse, Michelle Obama, were ‘caring for the entire Biden household.’ While these sentiments may seem warm on the surface, one must consider the political implications of Biden’s health crisis. Undoubtedly, ex-Presidents continue to play their role in orchestrating political narratives.
Finally, Al Roker offered his prayers to Biden. Apparently, everyone in the public eye is willing to jump on the sympathy bandwagon, maybe they see it as an opportunity to appear more relatable to the public. But what we cannot downplay here is the human cost of this for Biden – a multimillionaire politician who now faces an aggressive illness. This certainly sheds light on another angle, making Biden’s capability of leading the nation even more dubious.