Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office confirmed on Sunday. The diagnosis came after Biden experienced urinary symptoms and a nodule was discovered during a medical examination last week. The cancer cells were found to have spread to the bone, categorized as a more aggressive form of the disease. However, Biden’s cancer is described as hormone-sensitive, which may allow for effective treatment options. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians,” stated his office.
Prostate cancer is assessed using a Gleason score, which ranks the cancer’s aggressiveness on a scale from 1 to 10. Biden’s score is 9, indicating a high level of aggressiveness. When prostate cancer metastasizes, it often spreads to the bones, complicating treatment because medications may struggle to reach all affected areas. Nonetheless, hormone-sensitive cancers, such as Biden’s, can respond well to therapies that limit hormone availability to tumors.
At 82 years old, Biden’s health has been a significant concern for voters throughout his presidency. Following a difficult debate performance while campaigning for reelection, he ultimately decided not to pursue a second term. Kamala Harris, then Vice President, became the Democratic nominee but lost to Republican Donald Trump, who regained the presidency after a four-year hiatus.
In recent statements, Biden has pushed back against concerns regarding his age, despite revelations in Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s book “Original Sin” indicating that aides had concealed aspects of his decline during his presidency. His medical history includes the removal of a basal cell carcinoma from his chest in February 2023 and a benign polyp from his colon in November 2021.
Biden has made cancer research a cornerstone of his administration, launching a “cancer moonshot” initiative aimed at halving the cancer death rate over the next 25 years. This initiative builds on his previous efforts as Vice President to combat a disease that claimed the life of his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015. During the announcement of his cancer initiative, Biden expressed hope, stating this could be an “American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things.”
As the news of Biden’s diagnosis unfolds, it raises ongoing discussions surrounding health, age, and the future of leadership in the United States. The coming weeks will likely see an increased focus on Biden’s health and the implications it holds for his legacy and public service.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/18/joe-biden-diagnosed-with-prostate-cancer.html
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Publish Date: 2025-05-19 03:14:00
