Joe Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, his office announced on Sunday.

The diagnosis followed complaints of urinary symptoms, prompting doctors to investigate a nodule found on his prostate. Tests confirmed the presence of cancer, which has already spread to the bone—a sign of advanced, metastatic disease.

“This represents a more aggressive form of the disease,” his office stated, “but the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which makes it manageable with current treatments.” Biden and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his medical team.

Prostate cancer severity is assessed using the Gleason score system, which ranges from 6 to 10. Biden’s cancer has been graded a 9, placing it among the most aggressive forms of the disease.

Once prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body—particularly the bones—it becomes significantly harder to treat. However, hormone-sensitive cancers can be treated by depriving the tumors of the hormones they rely on to grow.

Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center said, “It’s very treatable, but not curable. Most men in this situation would receive drug-based treatments rather than surgery or radiation.”

Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, advances in treatment mean patients with metastatic prostate cancer can now expect to live for four to five years or more after diagnosis.

Biden’s health had long been a topic of public concern. Earlier in his presidency, he underwent procedures to remove a basal cell carcinoma from his chest and a benign polyp from his colon. In 2022, he launched a “cancer moonshot” initiative to cut the cancer death rate in half over the next 25 years, building on efforts he began as vice president following the death of his son Beau from brain cancer in 2015.

Though he stepped back from seeking a second term after a difficult debate performance in June, Biden had recently downplayed concerns over his age and health. Reports from a new book, Original Sin, suggest aides had shielded the public from the extent of his physical decline during his time in office.

Messages of support have poured in from political figures across the spectrum, wishing the former president strength and recovery during this difficult time.