'I've got the exact same cancer as Joe Biden - there's one thing he must do now'

When I was given the crushing diagnosis of stage four I was in shock - so I know exactly how Joe Biden is feeling. Being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014, I have been living with the disease for over ten years, and it's the same stage as , so I know what the former president should now expect.

I was just 49 when I got my diagnosis and, considerably younger than the 'average' age of someone who is at risk of getting prostate cancer. I was diagnosed with high volume metastatic prostate carcinoma with a gleason score of 9, exactly the same prognosis as Biden.

The rating is out of 10, so nine is very high, and it's also classed as T4, which means it has spread elsewhere around the body. Mine has spread to my lymph nodes, while Biden's is in his bones - and it also means we cannot have curative .

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I will never forget the moment my doctor gave me the prognosis. I was sat there with my wife, and we just burst into tears when I got the news. I honestly thought when I initially went to the doctors after frequently needing the toilet at night I was wasting his time - I never thought it would be cancer.

So I know exactly how Joe Biden must be feeling right now, it's a scary place. I believe if he is going to have chemotherapy, he will feel pretty grim for a while, but he should see it as his friend and not his enemy as that is what will give him more years.

I think right now he will probably be feeling a bit scared having to put 100% faith in others, but while he may be feeling less than great, it's important to still do the things you love, more so than ever.

I have totally had a new lease of life since my diagnosis. I stopped putting things off, and lived in the moment. We're all guilty of pushing things back thinking 'oh I will do that next week, next month, next year' but why? We should live every day as it comes.

Like Biden, my cancer is aggressive, it grew very quickly. I never showed 'big' symptoms, just that I'd be bursting for the toilet in the night, only for a tiny amount to come out. This happens because the prostate grows - from the cancer - and pushes on the bladder, making it think it's full.

Biden may have not realised his symptoms, as when you get older, your prostate naturally grows anyway - hence why elderly men frequently need to go to the toilet. But one of the biggest things Biden should do is to be open. It's easy to want to hide away, to sit inside and cry, but you have to make the most of each day as you don’t know when your time is up.

I was told I could have two years, and it changed how I lived my life. Once you get past the dreadful prognosis, you start to think every day is a gift. It's like being on an all expenses holiday and every morning the hotel owner tells me I can spend another day here. Life is a gift you just make the most of what you have.

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Don’t get me wrong, I wish I didn’t have cancer, but my life is better for it. I am a lot more focused on life, the things that would previously bother me don’t anymore. You have to learn to pick your battles as some just aren’t worth fighting for.

It's made me want to spend more time with my family, and it's something Biden will want as well. It makes you reassess your time, your energy and what you want to do. I now run marathons, ultra marathons and get myself out there.

My advice for Biden, as well as any man who finds themselves in this scary position is just to listen to the doctors. Do all the things you can and should do to make yourself as healthy as possible.

Eat more fruit and vegetables, reduce your alcohol intake, don’t smoke, eat less processed food. We all know how to live a healthy life, but if you are unwell, it’s more important than ever and it can help you live a longer life.

On anyone's death bed they don't want to look back on life and think they are glad they stayed in and watched TV and cried about being unwell, they would wish they went out more, saw their friends and made the memories. That’s what life is all about isn’t it?

I have spent a lot of time speaking to people about prostate cancer, helping others and sharing stories, but I really wish others with a bigger voice and platform would speak out about it too. It's why I wrote a book "Dead Man Running" to hopefully inspire anyone with a life challenge to live their best life.

If anything, I really hope Biden uses this to help others, to help share and spread awareness. At the moment 82 percent of prostate cases can be cured, but I hope the gap closes even more, and more men get tested before it’s too late.

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My change in mindset has meant I can walk my daughter down the aisle at her wedding this Saturday - something I never thought I’d get to do when I initially got my diagnosis - but I am doing all I can to help myself.

I am just ordinary Kev who left school at 16, works hard, and enjoys life. I’m not a super fit person, but I am doing my best to get as much time as possible, while living with the disease.

Data from the in England revealed in January 2025 shows that 50,751 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in England in 2022, and 55,033 men in 2023. Prostate Cancer UK also say that prostate cancer cases shot up by a quarter (25%) between 2019 and 2023.

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