Joe Biden Diagnosed With Advanced, Aggressive Prostate Cancer/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with advanced, aggressive prostate cancer, his office announced Sunday. The disease has spread to his bones but is hormone-sensitive, allowing for manageable treatment. Biden and his family are currently reviewing therapy options with medical specialists.
Biden Cancer Diagnosis: Quick Looks
- Biden, 82, diagnosed with aggressive, metastatic prostate cancer.
- Diagnosis followed urinary symptoms and discovery of a prostate nodule.
- Cancer has spread to bone but is hormone-sensitive and treatable.
- Gleason score of 9 indicates high aggression.
- Hormone therapy likely treatment; surgery/radiation not advised.
- Cancer is treatable but not curable, doctors say.
- Biden posted on X, thanking supporters and expressing resilience.
- Trump, Harris, and Obama offered words of support.
- Biden previously had skin and colon lesions removed.
- The diagnosis follows concerns over his health and fitness post-presidency.
Joe Biden Diagnosed With Advanced, Aggressive Prostate Cancer
Deep Look
Joe Biden Diagnosed With Advanced Prostate Cancer, Remains Focused on Treatment
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office announced on Sunday. The news comes at a delicate moment for the 82-year-old Democrat, who has faced ongoing questions about his health and cognitive fitness since leaving office.
Biden began experiencing urinary issues recently, which prompted doctors to investigate further. A nodule was found on his prostate, and on Friday, cancer was confirmed and staged as metastatic — meaning it has spread to distant areas, specifically the bone.
“This represents a more aggressive form of the disease,” Biden’s office stated, “but the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.” The former president and his family are actively exploring treatment options with his medical team.
Gleason Score 9: An Aggressive Threat
Prostate cancer severity is measured using a Gleason score, with scores ranging from 6 to 10. Biden’s score was 9 — indicating a highly aggressive cancer with a higher likelihood of spreading quickly and resisting treatment.
While metastasized prostate cancer poses serious challenges, there is hope. Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center emphasized that although the disease is incurable, it is manageable.
“It’s very treatable, but not curable,” Dr. Smith said. “Most men in this situation would be treated with hormone-suppressing therapies rather than surgery or radiation.”
Such therapies can deprive the cancer of the hormones it needs to grow, potentially extending life expectancy by four to five years or more, depending on how the disease responds.
Biden Responds With Optimism
On Monday morning, Biden took to social media platform X, sharing a photo of himself with his wife, Jill Biden, and writing:
“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.”
The post underscores a message of resilience from the former president, who has long made cancer research and care a central issue in his public life — driven in part by the loss of his son Beau Biden to brain cancer in 2015.
Support Across the Political Spectrum
Leaders from across the political aisle offered well wishes. President Donald Trump, Biden’s former rival, posted on Truth Social that he was
“saddened by the news” and wished Biden a “fast and successful recovery.”
Vice President Kamala Harris also voiced support, writing that Biden was “in our hearts and prayers” and praising his strength:
“Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership.”
Former President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as vice president, wrote:
“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace.”
A Health Journey Marked by Transparency and Advocacy
Biden’s health has drawn scrutiny for years, particularly during and after his presidency. In June 2024, a stumbling debate performance raised further concerns, leading Biden to exit the race for reelection. Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee and ultimately lost the general election to Trump.
Biden has had other health scares, including the removal of a basal cell carcinoma in 2023 and a benign but potentially pre-cancerous colon polyp in 2021.
His experience with cancer shaped much of his public service. As president, he revived the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, aiming to cut the U.S. cancer death rate by 50% within 25 years. The program built on the legacy of his vice presidency and Beau Biden’s fight with glioblastoma.
At the initiative’s launch, Biden called it an “American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things.”
Now, that mission becomes personal once again.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.