Biden's Cancer Diagnosis: Experts Split on When Cancer Developed

Following former President Joe Biden's diagnosis of stage four prostate cancer, he received well-wishes from colleagues across the political spectrum. Others analyzed the implications of his diagnosis. 

The Details: On Monday morning, Biden said, “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”

When Did He Know? Many are wondering whether Biden may have had cancer while in office. Experts offer different answers. Howard Forman, a professor of radiology and biomedical imaging at the Yale School of Medicine, said, “It is inconceivable that this was not being followed before he left the Presidency.” Dr. Zeke Emanuel, a trained oncologist, told MSNBC (Left bias), “He had it while he was president. He probably had it at the start of his presidency in 2021.” But, Professor and chair of the Department of Urology at UCLA, Dr. Mark Litwin, who specializes in testicular, bladder, prostate, and kidney cancer, remarked that “aggressive prostate cancers (of course) grow quickly; that's their nature. So, it is likely that this tumor began more recently.” Congressman Greg Murphy (R., N.C.), a urologist, questioned why Biden did not have regular screenings, but added it would be, “medically reckless” to assume Biden’s cancer diagnosis was covered up in the manner of his mental decline.  

How The Media Covered It: Perspectives on the left were careful to keep coverage of Biden's recent diagnosis and the reported cover-up of his mental decline separate, while some perspectives on the right grouped them together, presuming both were covered up. 

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