Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, family reviews treatment options

Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive and advanced form of prostate cancer, his office confirmed.

The 82-year-old Democrat, who left office earlier this year, was diagnosed last Friday following a medical visit for worsening urinary symptoms.

In a statement released Sunday evening, Hill’s office said: “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.”

Doctors believe the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which offers more effective options for treatment. Biden and his family are currently reviewing those options.

A Gleason score of 9 is considered a high-grade and aggressive form of cancer, meaning it is likely to grow and spread quickly. The diagnosis has prompted widespread concern and messages of support across the political spectrum.

Recent appearance and health scrutiny

Biden last appeared publicly on May 8 during a televised interview on The View, where he sat beside his wife, Jill. During the interview, he accepted blame for Donald Trump’s re-election but firmly denied reports of cognitive decline.

Concerns about his age and fitness had led to his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, following a debate performance that triggered fresh questions about his health. His exit cleared Vice President Kamala Harris’s path to becoming the Democratic nominee.

Trump and other political figures responded.

President Donald Trump issued a rare personal statement via Truth Social, offering support to his predecessor: “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a frequent Biden critic, also shared a message of sympathy. “Cancer is truly awful,” she wrote on X.. “My Dad passed away in 2021 with cancer. Prayers for Joe Biden and his family.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote: “Our hearts are with President Biden and his entire family right now.

A man of dignity, strength, and compassion like his deserves to live a long and beautiful life.”

Prostate cancer facts and Biden’s legacy

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men, with over 50,000 diagnoses each year in the UK and more than 12,000 deaths annually. Risk increases significantly with age.

Biden had made fighting cancer a hallmark of his administration. In 2022, he launched the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, aiming to reduce cancer deaths by 50% within 25 years. The project was personal for the former president, whose son, Beau Biden, died of brain cancer in 2015.

As the news spreads, the focus now shifts to the former president’s treatment plan and ongoing support from both sides of the political divide.