I do think people with at least one long-lived parent also tend to be rosy about their own prospects for life span. Biden’s mother lived to, what, late 90s? I’m sure he believed that was a strong likelihood for himself, too.
That’s a good point. My grandmother and both my aunts lived forever, and until my mother died in her mid 80s, i had higher expectations for my own longevity then i have now.
His father lived to 86, his mother to 96. So, yes, good longevity.
Other than two aneurysms and a post-surgical embolism in 1988, when he was 45 (all of which kept him away from the Senate for a number of months), I’m not sure that Biden had any particular health issues or crises prior to becoming president.
I have a sorta-similar take.
We all tend to remember the long-lived ones as fulfilling their potential and discount the short-lived ones as folks who got unlucky.
Three of my four grandparents died of old age at an age that would be respectable today, much less for people born between 1880 & 1910. The other one died early and somehow that was bad luck, not bad longevity.
By coincidence, in two weeks I will attain the age my dad was when he died. When he was my age today he was in deep shit in the hospital for the last time. But his demise was premature bad luck, not bad longevity, and I’m sure I’ll be fine and will last a long time to come in good health.
Or at least that’s what I keep repeating to myself. Maybe I’ll even convince myself. An odd sensation to be sure.
Yeah, my dad died at 59, but I don’t consider it at all when considering how long I might last. He smoked at least two packs a day since he was thirteen, and he died of lung cancer, heart disease, and emphysema. The trifecta for smokers.
Digital is the new anal log.
That was excellent.
Given that Biden has not been forthcoming about his health in other areas, I am not going to automatically assume that he is telling the truth about the timing of this diagnosis. And I don’t think that’s a terribly wrong thing to say given recent history.
It’s nevertheless awful news, and I wish him comfort and many years ahead.
Not quite sure that’s the meme I want to be known for, but they say there’s no such thing as bad publicity 
Oh, ouch!
Interesting and relevant article about new treatments:
Well… not exactly.
I think an argument can be made to not treat with the intent to “cure” or put into remission an aggressive, fast-growing cancer that has spread so widely in a man Biden’s age (and we don’t know what other complicating health issues he may have).
But very much there are treatments that can extend life, extend/improve quality of life, and prevent suffering.
These days people can live years with “terminal” or “untreatable” cancer. The focus changes from trying to effect a cure to maximizing what’s left of life and health. That’s still treating him.