Former U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, according to a statement released by his office on Sunday.
The diagnosis came after Biden consulted a physician last week due to urinary issues. Medical evaluations confirmed a high-grade form of the disease, with a Gleason score of 9 out of 10—indicating a fast-growing cancer that is likely to spread rapidly, as explained by Cancer Research UK.
Biden and his family are currently considering treatment options. His team noted that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which typically makes it more treatable through hormone therapy.
This announcement comes nearly a year after Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, citing concerns related to his health and age. At 82, he remains the oldest individual ever to have held the office of U.S. president.
Biden had been the Democratic contender seeking re-election but faced intense criticism after a poor performance during a televised debate in June against incumbent President Donald Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris ultimately replaced him as the Democratic nominee.
Prostate cancer ranks as the second most common cancer in men, trailing only skin cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 13 out of every 100 men will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime, with age being the primary risk factor.
Since stepping down from public office, Biden has made relatively few public appearances. He delivered a keynote address in April at a Chicago event organized by the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled—a nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities.
In May, Biden gave his first post-presidency interview to the BBC, during which he described his decision to exit the 2024 race as “difficult.”
His health has been a topic of speculation for some time. During a May appearance on The View, Biden refuted claims that he had experienced cognitive decline during his last year in office, stating, “There is nothing to sustain that.”
Throughout his career, Biden has been a strong advocate for cancer research. In 2022, he and former First Lady Jill Biden revived the Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to help prevent more than four million cancer-related deaths by 2047.
Biden’s advocacy is also deeply personal—his eldest son, Beau Biden, died from brain cancer in 2015.
Source: BBC
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