When a Leader’s Diagnosis Becomes a National Wake-Up Call:
Prostate Cancer, Awareness, & the Urgent Need for Change
On May 16, 2025, former U.S. President Joe Biden publicly disclosed a diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer. According to reports, the cancer had already metastasized to his bones, with a Gleason score of 9—signifying an aggressive form of the disease. While the cancer is hormone-sensitive and potentially manageable with treatment, the reality of a late-stage diagnosis in a former president has shocked the public and reignited national discussion around prostate cancer screening, men’s preventive health, and the policies that shape both.
At Men’s Health Network (MHN), we extend our sincere wishes for strength and healing to former President Biden and his family.
We also see this moment as a critical inflection point:
A chance for policymakers, clinicians, and the public to finally prioritize men’s health in the way it deserves.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters to Every Man and Family
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men, yet it remains one of the most treatable cancers when caught early.
It is often asymptomatic in early stages, which is why screening—specifically the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test—can be life-saving.
However, Biden’s diagnosis, reportedly after years without a PSA screening, illustrates a dangerous gap in how we approach men’s preventive health. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) currently recommends against routine PSA screening for men over age 70, citing concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment. While the intent behind these guidelines may be to protect men from unnecessary procedures, the unintended consequence is clear: lives are being lost to cancers that could have been managed or cured had they been found earlier.
MHN Has Long Been A Leader In The Fight Against Prostate Disease
Men’s Health Network has been working to improve early detection and treatment of prostate diseases, including prostate cancer. Much progress has been made, but former President Biden’s case confirms the need for further effort and further progress.
Current screening guidelines risk delaying life-saving diagnoses.
We have continually advocated for more nuanced, personalized screening strategies, rather than blanket age-based cutoffs that can deprive men of the chance to make informed decisions with their doctors.
Our message has been consistent:
When men are served by the health system with targeted, sex-specific care, outcomes improve. When men are ignored or deprioritized, the Lifespan Gender Gap grows wider.
The Lifespan Gender Gap Is a Policy Failure
Men in the United States die, on average, nearly six years younger than women and the gap has been widening since 2015. The Lifespan Gender Gap responds to public policy choices and we need to do a better job of engaging men with the healthcare system by creating male-friendly care environments, and implementing screening and care policies addressed to the needs of men.
Prostate cancer, a disease unique to men, is emblematic of this crisis. Despite being highly treatable in early stages, it continues to claim thousands of lives every year—lives that could often be saved with simple, early detection tools like the PSA test.
What Needs to Happen Now
We call on federal health agencies to reevaluate current prostate cancer screening guidelines.
The PSA test is not perfect, but it is one of the few tools we have to detect this cancer before it spreads.
Men should have access to regular screenings, particularly those with risk factors such as:
- Age 50 or older (or 40+ for high-risk individuals)
- African American men
- Family history of prostate cancer
- History of other male-specific cancers
A blanket denial of testing for older men assumes that life after 70 has no value.
That logic is ageist, dismissive, and directly contributes to outcomes like what we now see in former President Biden.
Education, Awareness, and Empathy
Men’s Health Network believes that a world that values health outcomes equally for men and women must also support educational campaigns, empathetic care delivery, and health literacy for men and boys. We must empower men to understand their risks and their rights as patients.
We urge medical providers to:
- Proactively discuss prostate cancer screening with male patients
- Take family history and racial risk factors seriously
- Recommend PSA tests when medically appropriate, regardless of age
We urge policymakers to:
- Fund an Office of Men’s Health at HHS
- Revisit USPSTF screening guidelines with patient-centered reforms
- Invest in public health campaigns that specifically reach men where they live, work, play, and pray
Turning Awareness into Action
We cannot let this moment pass as just another news cycle. President Biden’s diagnosis is a call to action. If the most well-resourced man in America can fall through the cracks of our healthcare system, what does that mean for the millions of men who don’t have access, advocacy, or even basic information?
Men’s Health Network stands ready to support patients, families, caregivers, and advocates with:
- Free educational materials on prostate cancer
- A national awareness toolkit during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
- Wear Blue campaigns to bring men’s health into the mainstream
Final Thoughts
Prostate cancer is not just a medical issue. It’s a public health failure when it goes undetected until it’s too late. Former President Biden’s stage 4 diagnosis is a tragedy—but it is also a preventable one. Let us use this moment to rally, reform, and reimagine what it means to truly care for men.
We cannot keep ignoring the warning signs. We cannot afford to stay silent.
Now is the time to change how we talk about prostate cancer. Now is the time to change how we screen for it. Now is the time to save lives.
Visit menshealthnetwork.org to learn more, get involved, or donate in support of our mission.
#MensHealthMatters #ProstateCancerAwareness #LifespanGenderGap #BidenDiagnosis #TheEmpathyGap
Honor Men’s Health Month: Take Action Today
June is Men’s Health Month—a time to raise awareness, start conversations, and support the well-being of men and boys. Visit MensHealthMonth.org to learn more, and help us continue this vital work by donating at MensHealthNetwork.org/donate
