Former President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, his office announced Sunday. The diagnosis follows a recent medical evaluation prompted by urinary irregularities and the discovery of a prostate nodule.
Biden’s medical team confirmed the cancer as high-grade (Gleason score 9/10), indicating a highly abnormal cell structure compared to healthy tissue. While metastatic prostate cancer poses significant treatment challenges, his office noted the disease appears hormone-sensitive, offering potential pathways for targeted therapy. “The President and his family are actively consulting with physicians to determine the optimal treatment plan,” the statement read.
Medical Context and Outlook
Prostate cancer that spreads to bones is typically more complex to treat due to the difficulty of eradicating dispersed tumors. However, hormone-sensitive variants—like Biden’s case—can respond to therapies that block androgen production, slowing cancer growth.
Biden’s health has long been a focal point of public discourse, particularly during his 2024 reelection campaign. After a widely criticized debate performance in June 2024, he withdrew from the race, paving the way for then-Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee. Harris ultimately lost to Republican Donald Trump in the general election.
Prior Health Concerns and Advocacy
The former president’s medical history includes a 2023 procedure to remove a basal cell carcinoma (a common, slow-growing skin cancer) and a 2021 colon polyp excision, which revealed a benign but precancerous lesion.
In 2022, Biden championed the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, aiming to halve U.S. cancer mortality rates within 25 years—a personal mission influenced by the 2015 death of his son Beau from brain cancer.
Recent Pushback on Age Concerns
Despite reports in “Original Sin”, a new book by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, alleging aides obscured signs of his declining acuity during his presidency, Biden has dismissed critiques of his age. “I’ve never felt more motivated to contribute,” he stated last month during a public appearance.
