WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES — Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, according to a statement released by his office on Sunday.
The diagnosis followed the onset of urinary symptoms, which prompted medical examinations that revealed a “small nodule” on his prostate. The cancer is characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with bone metastasis, indicating a more aggressive presentation of the disease.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management,” stated the unsigned release from Mr. Biden’s office. “The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
Mr. Biden, 82, completed his presidential term in January, having been the oldest individual to hold that office in U.S. history. His age and health were subjects of scrutiny throughout his presidency, contributing to his decision not to seek re-election.
Since leaving office, Mr. Biden has maintained a relatively low public profile, dividing his time between Delaware and Washington, D.C., to organize his post-presidential activities.
In response to assertions of mental decline, particularly following President Trump’s 100th day in office and the impending release of books detailing his presidency and the 2024 campaign, Mr. Biden participated in media interviews to refute these claims.
“They are wrong,” Mr. Biden asserted during an appearance on “The View.” “There’s nothing to sustain that.”
He also expressed his belief that he could have secured victory against Mr. Trump had he continued his campaign.
However, many prominent Democrats have had to reassess their support for Mr. Biden’s re-election bid following a widely criticized debate in June 2024, where he appeared disoriented. Subsequently, Mr. Biden endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, who ultimately lost to Mr. Trump.
The recent release of audio from Mr. Biden’s 2023 interview with Special Counsel Robert K. Hur, who investigated his handling of classified documents, has further intensified scrutiny.
Axios published the full five-hour recording prior to the Trump administration’s planned release, revealing Mr. Biden’s frail voice and difficulties with recalling dates and details.
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Mr. Hur declined to recommend charges against Mr. Biden, citing, in part, the potential for a jury to perceive him as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
In February 2024, while still in office, Mr. Biden was declared “fit to serve” by his physician after a routine medical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Mr. Biden and his family have faced numerous health challenges throughout their lives. In 1988, he survived two brain aneurysms. His son Beau Biden passed away in 2015 from glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.
In a January interview with USA Today, shortly before leaving office, Mr. Biden acknowledged the uncertainty of his future health, stating, “Who the hell knows? So far, so good. But who knows what I’m going to be when I’m 86 years old?.”
