Former US President Joe Biden shared a statement on X encouraging men to speak with their doctors about prostate cancer screening and early detection during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Biden said this year’s awareness campaign is especially personal following his own prostate cancer diagnosis last spring, when the disease had already spread to his bones.
In his statement, he highlighted the importance of knowing individual risk factors and starting conversations about screening at the appropriate age. He urged men not to postpone these discussions and specifically emphasized the higher prostate cancer burden among Black men and those with a family history of the disease. Biden wrote:
“Talk to your doctors. Ask the hard questions. Do it for yourself, and do it for the people who love you.”
He also shared a brief update on his own treatment, saying that the radiation therapy he received last fall “worked as intended” and that he continues to do the things he cares about, including working on his memoir.
When Should Men Talk About Prostate Cancer Screening?
A central part of Biden’s message focused on knowing when to begin conversations about prostate cancer screening, particularly for people at increased risk.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends informed discussions between men and their healthcare providers about the potential benefits, risks, and uncertainties of screening. These conversations should generally begin at:
- Age 50 for men at average risk who are expected to live at least another 10 years;
- Age 45 for men at higher risk, including Black men and those with a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age;
- Age 40 for men at particularly high risk, including those with multiple first-degree relatives who developed prostate cancer at an early age.
The American Urological Association and Society of Urologic Oncology recommend regular prostate cancer screening every two to four years for people aged 50 to 69, while people at increased risk, including those with Black ancestry, certain inherited genetic mutations, or a strong family history, may begin screening between ages 40 and 45. Screening decisions and intervals should be individualized through shared decision-making.
Screening is primarily based on the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, with additional assessment considered when appropriate.
Disparities in Prostate Cancer
Biden also drew attention to the disproportionate burden of prostate cancer among Black men in the United States.
Current ACS data indicate that Black men are nearly 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than White men and are approximately twice as likely to die from the disease. The causes of this disparity are complex and include differences in disease burden as well as access to timely, high-quality cancer care.
The difference highlights why awareness of individual risk, family history and appropriate screening is particularly important for higher-risk populations.
Early Detection Matters
Prostate cancer outcomes vary substantially according to how far the disease has spread at diagnosis.
The five-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer diagnosed at a localized or regional stage is greater than 99%, compared with 38% for distant-stage disease, according to the ACS.
Recent ACS data have also raised concerns about increasing diagnoses of advanced prostate cancer. A 2025 report found that overall prostate cancer incidence increased by approximately 3% annually from 2014 through 2021, with particularly steep increases in advanced-stage diagnoses.
Joe Biden Shares His Own Experience
For Biden, this year’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month carries personal significance. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025 after the disease had already spread to his bones.
In his latest message, Biden briefly addressed his own treatment, saying that radiation therapy received last year “worked as intended” and thanking the healthcare professionals involved in his care.
But his broader message focused on encouraging others to act earlier. 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,”
Recently, former First Lady Jill Biden also shared an update on Joe Biden’s fight against metastatic prostate cancer. Speaking on The Jamie Kern Lima Show in August 2026, she said his latest scans were “very optimistic” and reported that his PSA level was zero. She added that while treatment and stage IV cancer have slowed him down, he continues to work every day and remains active despite the challenges of his diagnosis and ongoing therapy.
Jill Biden Shares Update on Joe Biden’s Latest Cancer Scans
