President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to a statement released by his medical team on Sunday. The diagnosis followed reports of worsening urinary symptoms and was confirmed through a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), indicating high-grade cancer with metastasis to the bone.
Despite the severity of the diagnosis, Biden’s physicians noted the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which provides a pathway for effective medical management. “The president and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his healthcare team,” the statement read.
The Gleason score, used to grade the aggressiveness of prostate cancer, ranges from 6 to 10, with higher scores denoting more aggressive disease. A score of 9, as in Biden’s case, suggests a high likelihood of rapid progression and the potential for wider dissemination.
Dr. Arpeet Shah, a urologist with Associated Urological Specialists in Illinois, explained in an interview with Fox News Digital (though not involved in Biden’s care) that the score is determined based on the appearance of cancer cells under a microscope. “The less the cancer cells resemble normal prostate tissue, the higher the grade they receive,” he said.
Pathologists evaluate the two most prevalent patterns in a tissue sample and assign grades from 1 to 5. These are then added together to form the final Gleason score:
- Grade 1: Cells appear nearly normal
- Grades 2 to 4: Cells increasingly deviate from normal structure
- Grade 5: Cells appear highly abnormal
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a Gleason score of 6 generally reflects low-grade, slow-growing cancer; a score of 7 indicates an intermediate level of risk; and scores between 8 and 10 are associated with aggressive, high-grade disease requiring prompt and intensive treatment.
Dr. Shah emphasized the value of early detection in improving outcomes. “Routine screening with PSA testing and physical examination could lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatment prospects,” he noted.
Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier, a board-certified radiologist, also addressed Biden’s condition during an appearance on The Big Weekend Show. She confirmed the diagnosis corresponds to stage 4 cancer, which typically carries a significantly reduced survival rate. However, she underscored that not all stage 4 cancers are identical in prognosis.
“The important distinction here is that the president’s cancer is hormone-sensitive,” Saphier said, explaining that such forms may respond to hormonal therapy or surgical approaches that reduce testosterone levels, a hormone that can promote cancer growth.
“While stage 4 cancer is the most advanced stage, many patients today can live extended lives with proper treatment,” she added. “Although a cure is unlikely, the goal becomes disease control—achieving either no evidence of disease or halting its progression.”
President Biden and his medical team are expected to announce further treatment details in the coming weeks.
