Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has already spread to his bones, according to a statement released by his office on Sunday. The 82-year-old Democrat’s condition was discovered after he reported worsening urinary symptoms, prompting doctors to identify a suspicious nodule on his prostate.
Medical evaluations revealed a high-grade tumour with a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), indicating the cancer’s advanced stage and its metastasis to the skeletal system. Despite the severity, physicians have determined that the cancer remains hormone-sensitive, raising the prospect of effective treatment strategies.
“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,” the statement read.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.”
Biden and his family are currently consulting with specialists to chart the best course of action. Treatment for hormone-sensitive, metastatic prostate cancer often includes androgen-deprivation therapy, sometimes combined with radiation or chemotherapy, though specific plans have not yet been disclosed.
Context and background
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men in the United States. A Gleason score of 9 indicates poorly differentiated cells and an aggressive tumour growing rapidly and is more likely to spread beyond the prostate gland. Bone metastases can cause significant pain and increase the complexity of treatment due to the risks of fractures and decreased mobility.
Political and personal impact
Biden’s diagnosis comes amid renewed health scrutiny during and after his presidency. A forthcoming book by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, draws on interviews with over 200 Democratic insiders to suggest that aides had grown increasingly concerned about Biden’s physical stamina late in his term.
According to the book, White House physicians reportedly advised measures—including shorter walking routes, the installation of handrails, and discreet wheelchair readiness—to mitigate the risk of falls. Critics seized upon the former president’s unsteady performance during the June 2024 debate against then-President Donald Trump, which precipitated his decision to end his reelection bid.
Despite these political undercurrents, the current announcement focuses solely on Biden’s health and the family’s determination to pursue an effective treatment plan.
Biden’s medical team is expected to provide further updates once a treatment regimen is finalised. In the meantime, supporters and allies have rallied around the former president, expressing confidence in his resilience and the hormone sensitivity of his cancer as encouraging factors.
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