Joe Biden’s latest health update puts prostate cancer screening back in the spotlight, with the former president saying his radiation treatment “worked as intended” and urging men not to put off doctor visits. The message is personal, direct, and aimed at turning a difficult diagnosis into a warning that could help others catch the disease earlier.
Biden marked Prostate Cancer Awareness Month with a public note that tied his own experience to a broader public health reminder. At 83, he said the treatment he completed last fall has allowed him to keep moving forward, including working on his memoir and staying engaged with the things that matter to him.
“The radiation treatment from last fall worked as intended, and I continue to do the things I care about, like finishing my memoir,” Biden wrote. He also made a point of thanking the doctors, nurses and other professionals who treated him, describing their “skill, dedication, and compassion” as deeply meaningful.
The heart of the message was less about politics and more about timing. Biden urged men to talk with their doctors about prostate cancer screening before symptoms become a crisis, saying early detection can make a huge difference in survival.
“Talk to your doctors. Ask the hard questions. Do it for yourself, and do it for the people who love you,” Biden wrote. That kind of plainspoken plea can land harder than a polished public-service announcement, especially when it comes from someone living through the disease in real time.
He also laid out a basic age guide for those at average risk, saying the conversation should begin around 50. For Black men and men with a family history, he said those talks should start earlier, reflecting the higher risks those groups can face.
That advice lines up with long-running guidance from cancer experts, who say screening discussions should be tailored to age, race and family history. The point is not to wait for trouble to show up, because prostate cancer often moves quietly until it is already doing damage.
Biden’s diagnosis first became public in May 2025, when his office said he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. Doctors later said the cancer was hormone-sensitive, which opened the door to treatment options that could help manage it more effectively.
The diagnosis reportedly followed urinary symptoms and the discovery of a prostate nodule, which is the kind of detail that can sound small at first but may signal something much bigger. A Gleason score of 9 and Grade Group 5 put the cancer in a serious category, and that made the next steps especially important.
After that, Biden underwent radiation therapy and finished the course last fall. His latest update suggests the treatment brought the kind of result doctors were aiming for, even if the road ahead remains tied to ongoing medical care and close monitoring.
His note also carried a softer tone at the end, thanking people who have prayed for him and his family. “It’s my hope and prayer that by sharing our experience and being part of this important conversation, we can help save lives,” he wrote. “And no matter what, keep the faith. God bless you.”
