Former President Joe Biden Diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office confirmed Sunday, after recent medical evaluations revealed urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule.

Following an examination last week, doctors diagnosed Biden on Friday with prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bone. “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management," Biden’s office stated. "The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

Biden’s cancer has been classified with a Gleason score of 9, indicating one of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer. When prostate cancer spreads, it often targets the bones, making treatment more challenging due to the difficulty in reaching all cancerous sites. However, the hormone-sensitive nature of the disease may allow it to respond to treatments that block hormone production, which fuels cancer growth.

At 82, Biden’s health has been a central focus during and after his presidency. Health concerns intensified following his poor performance in the June presidential debate, prompting him to withdraw from his reelection campaign. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris replaced him as the Democratic nominee but lost to Republican Donald Trump, who returned to the presidency after a four-year break.

Reports from the upcoming book “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson indicate that Biden’s aides shielded the public from the true extent of his health decline during his presidency. Biden has recently pushed back against ongoing concerns about his age and capability.

In February 2023, Biden had a basal cell carcinoma removed from his chest, and in November 2021, a benign but potentially pre-cancerous polyp was removed from his colon.

Biden has been a long-time advocate for cancer research, launching the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative in 2022 as part of his administration’s efforts to reduce cancer mortality by half within 25 years. The initiative was a continuation of his work as vice president after the death of his son, Beau Biden, from brain cancer in 2015.

“This is an American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things,” Biden said when announcing the initiative.