Former President Joe Biden provided an update on his health and encouraged people to get screened for prostate cancer in a post shared on social media on September 8.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, said Biden, something that is “more personal for me” this year.
Last May, Biden announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and that it had already spread to his bones by the time it was discovered.
“When prostate cancer is caught early, the five-year survival is close to 100 per cent,” he said, encouraging men to “have the conversation with your doctor. Don’t put it off.”
“I am deeply grateful to the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who helped to control my cancer and who continue to take such good care of me,” said Biden.
He continued: “Their skill, dedication, and compassion mean so much. The radiation treatment from last fall worked as intended, and I continue to do the things I care about, like finishing my memoir.”
More than 330,000 men in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, said Biden.
Men who are over the age of 50 should have regular screenings for prostate cancer, said Biden, and those in higher-risk groups – including Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer – should begin screenings even earlier.
Biden thanked everyone in the last year and a half who had reached out to him and his family and had prayed for them while he battled cancer.
“We appreciate every single one of you,” he said.
“It’s my hope and prayer that by sharing our experience and being part of this important conversation, we can help save lives. Talk to your doctors. Ask the hard questions. Do it for yourself, and do it for the people who love you,” said Biden, adding: “And no matter what, keep the faith. God bless you.”
Last month, President Biden’s son Hunter revealed that his father’s cancer had spread and that the former president was in a lot of pain.
“The cancer has spread, metastasised into his bones and further,” said Hunter Biden in an August 7 interview with the BBC.
“It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many respects.”
Hunter Biden said his father’s condition was “really sad to watch”, but that his father was not complaining.
“The only thing that I’d say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more, because it’s not good,” said Hunter Biden.
