Fakeeh University Hospital Urges Men to Act on Joe Biden’s Recent Diagnosis
The recent diagnosis of former U.S. President Joe Biden with aggressive prostate cancer has sparked global attention — and for good reason. Medical experts in the UAE are using this moment to emphasize the urgent need for early prostate cancer screenings, particularly among men aged 45 and older.
At Fakeeh University Hospital (FUH) in Dubai, urologists and oncologists are sounding the alarm on the silent progression of prostate cancer and encouraging men to take advantage of a simple yet life-saving tool: the PSA blood test.
“Most of the time, prostate cancer is silent unless and until it starts spreading to the bones,”
– Dr. Deepak Janardhanan, Consultant Urologist, Fakeeh University Hospital.
Prostate cancer, which is the second most common cancer globally among men, is less frequently diagnosed in the UAE due to a younger population. However, that should not lead to complacency. Men over the age of 60 are particularly at risk, and awareness among those in their 40s and 50s is crucial.
The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test is a simple blood test that can detect early warning signs. Dr. Deepak notes that FUH and other hospitals often offer this test for free during Movember, a global campaign focused on men’s health held every November.
The beauty of the PSA test is its simplicity:
“It’s a very slow-growing cancer. It takes a few years for the prostate cancer to spread to the bone, so you have enough time to diagnose it early. That's why we say testing once a year is good enough.”
– Dr. Deepak Janardhanan
One of the biggest challenges is that prostate cancer often shows no symptoms in its early stages. Many men delay screenings, citing no discomfort or visible issues.
“Men commonly say, ‘I don’t feel anything; why should I visit a doctor?’ — which, to say the least, is dangerous.”
– Dr. Michel Jabbour, Consultant Urologist, Clemenceau Medical Center
If your PSA results are abnormal, the next steps involve:
“When diagnosed early, prostate cancer has a 98–99% five-year survival rate. Many cases only require monitoring or minimally invasive treatment,”
– Dr. Mohamad Azzam Ziade, Consultant in Medical Oncology
To combat the lack of awareness, Fakeeh University Hospital participates in initiatives like Movember, where the hospital turns blue and educates the public on prostate cancer. Dr. Deepak says the real challenge is still encouraging men to come in for the test.
If you are:
It’s time to get screened. A simple PSA test could be the key to early detection and successful treatment.
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