WASHINGTON — Former U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an advanced form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, according to a statement released by his office on Sunday.
The diagnosis came on Friday, following a medical consultation last week prompted by persistent urinary symptoms. Doctors discovered a prostate nodule and confirmed the presence of cancer with a Gleason score of 9 out of 10, indicating a highly aggressive and fast-spreading type of the disease.
Despite the severity of the diagnosis, Biden’s office noted that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which could allow for effective management through available treatments.
“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,” read the statement. “On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis 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 and his family are currently reviewing treatment options.
The news has prompted a wave of support from across the political spectrum. It comes nearly a year after Biden withdrew from the 2024 U.S. presidential race amid concerns over his age and health. His campaign had struggled following a widely criticized performance in a June debate against then-Republican nominee and current president, Donald Trump. Biden was subsequently replaced by his vice-president, Kamala Harris, as the Democratic nominee.
Biden remains the oldest person to have held the office of U.S. president.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men after skin cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that approximately 13 out of every 100 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, with age being the most significant risk factor.
(Source: BBC)
