People have been asking when was biden diagnosed with cancer for quite a while now, and honestly, the answer depends entirely on which "diagnosis" you’re talking about. It isn’t just one date. Most folks remember the headlines from early 2023, but there is a much longer history of skin issues, and then, of course, the much more serious news that broke in May 2025.
It’s kinda complicated because the White House medical team used different terms over the years. You've got "localized non-melanoma," "basal cell carcinoma," and "metastatic prostate cancer" all swirling around in the same conversation.
The First Signs: Skin Cancer Before the Presidency
Long before he moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Joe Biden was already dealing with the effects of a youth spent under the sun. We’re talking about his days as a lifeguard at a pool in Wilmington, Delaware. If you’ve ever seen photos of him from the 1960s, you know he wasn't exactly wearing SPF 50.
His longtime physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, actually noted in a 2021 health summary that Biden had "several localized non-melanoma skin cancers" removed before he ever took office as President. These weren't considered life-threatening, but they set a pattern. He was a guy who was prone to these types of growths.
Basically, the first time Biden was diagnosed with any form of cancer was years—possibly decades—before his 2020 election victory. These early procedures were simple excisions. They cut the spot out, and he moved on.
That 2023 Chest Lesion
The news really hit the mainstream on March 3, 2023. That’s when the White House officially confirmed that a lesion removed from the President’s chest during a routine physical in February was indeed cancerous.
Specifically, it was basal cell carcinoma.
Now, if you ask a dermatologist, they'll tell you basal cell is the "good" kind of cancer to have, if there is such a thing. It doesn't usually spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body like melanoma does. Dr. O’Connor was very clear in his memo: "No further treatment is required." They did a biopsy, the site healed "nicely," and that was that. Or so we thought.
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The Shocking May 2025 Diagnosis
Everything changed on May 16, 2025.
This is the date that really sticks in people's minds now because it wasn't just a small spot on the skin. This was Stage 4 prostate cancer. The former President’s office released a statement on Sunday, May 18, 2025, explaining that Biden had been experiencing "increasing urinary symptoms."
When they did the tests, they found a nodule. The pathology was grim:
- Gleason Score: 9 (which is basically a 9 out of 10 on the aggression scale).
- Grade Group: 5.
- Status: Metastatic (it had already spread to his bones).
This was a massive shift in the narrative. Suddenly, the talk wasn't about "vigorous" health and "fit for duty." It was about palliative care and hormone therapy.
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What’s wild is that a lot of experts, like Dr. William Dahut from the American Cancer Society, suggested that for the cancer to be that advanced by May 2025, it had probably been growing for years. Some oncologists, including Ezekiel Emanuel, publicly questioned if it had been present during his actual presidency, undetected.
The Forehead Surgery in late 2025
Just when everyone was focused on his prostate cancer treatment, Biden popped up in the news again for skin issues. In September 2025, he was spotted in Rehoboth Beach with a visible wound on his forehead.
His spokesperson later confirmed he had undergone Mohs surgery. This is a very precise procedure where doctors shave off layers of skin one by one and check them under a microscope until no more cancer cells are seen. Again, it was a non-melanoma skin cancer, likely another basal cell or a squamous cell carcinoma.
It felt like a bit of a "double whammy." Dealing with an aggressive internal cancer while still having to get chunks of skin removed from your face. It really highlighted how much the sun damage from his youth was still haunting him at 82.
Why the Timeline Matters
The reason people get so worked up about the "when" of his diagnosis is usually political, but medically, it's a lesson in screening.
Biden hadn't had a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test since 2014. That’s an eleven-year gap. By the time the symptoms were loud enough to notice, the "silent killer" had already made it to his bones.
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The takeaway here isn't just about a famous politician. It’s about the reality that health can look fine on the surface while something is brewing underneath. Biden was told he was "fit for duty" in February 2024, only to have Stage 4 cancer found about 14 months later.
What You Can Actually Do
If you’re looking at this timeline and feeling a bit of "health anxiety," here’s the smart way to handle it:
- Check your skin: If a spot looks like a "pearly" pimple that won't heal or a scaly patch that bleeds, get it looked at. That's how basal cell starts.
- Ask about PSA: If you’re a man over 50 (or younger if you have a family history), talk to your doctor about prostate screening. Don't wait eleven years between tests.
- Don't ignore the "small" stuff: Biden’s diagnosis came after urinary symptoms. If things change with your body, don't just chalk it up to "getting old."
Ultimately, the story of Biden's cancer is a mix of chronic skin issues and a late-stage discovery that caught many by surprise. It's a reminder that even with the best doctors in the world at Walter Reed, things can be missed if the right tests aren't happening at the right intervals.