Former President Joe Biden's recent revelation of an aggressive prostate cancer diagnosis has sparked significant public concern and discussion. Dr. Zeke Emanuel, a prominent oncologist who served on Biden's COVID advisory board, suggested that the cancer was likely already present when Biden assumed office in 2021. This assessment was made during Emanuel's appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on May 19, 2025.
Dr. Emanuel's comments have intensified scrutiny regarding the former president's health disclosures throughout his term. "He probably had it at the start of his presidency, in 2021," Emanuel stated on the show, pointing to the unlikelihood that the cancer developed in just the last few hundred days. The implication is that the disease had been progressing over several years.
The public became aware of Biden's condition only last week when it was revealed that the cancer had metastasized to his bones. Reports of a "small nodule" on Biden's prostate that required further evaluation had surfaced, with Biden's family now considering treatment options.
Emanuel expressed his surprise that an advanced cancer like Biden's had not been detected sooner. He highlighted the severity of Biden's state by referencing his Gleason score—a grading system for prostate cancer aggression—of nine out of a possible ten, which signifies a high level of abnormality in the cancer cells.
The discussion turned to the frequency and transparency of Biden's health screenings. Emanuel noted that there was no evidence indicating that Biden had undergone a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test recently, a common method for early detection of prostate cancer. Although such tests are generally not recommended for men over 70, Emanuel found it surprising that they may not have been conducted given Biden's public profile.
Emanuel also considered the possibility that Biden may have declined the test, which some men choose to do. However, he described Biden's cancer as aggressive, which could have prompted earlier testing. The oncologist went further to speculate on the implications of a potential lack of disclosure, comparing it to previous concerns about medical transparency with President Trump, particularly around his COVID diagnosis.
Prostate cancer is known for its typically slow progression and is often detected through PSA testing. Symptoms can include urinary issues and bone pain, with reports suggesting that Biden had experienced increasing urinary symptoms prior to his diagnosis. This diagnosis became public shortly after his appearance on "The View."
Presidential physical exams are routine, and Biden was declared "fit to serve" as recently as February 2024. If Biden had a PSA test at that time, the rapid progression to late-stage metastatic cancer within approximately 15 months would be highly unusual.
Questions about whether Biden's health status was adequately communicated to the public are now at the forefront of this developing story. The full implications of Dr. Emanuel's revelations are yet to unfold, but they have undoubtedly cast a new light on the transparency around the health of public figures, particularly those in high office.
