Former US President Joe Biden diagnosed with 'aggressive' prostate cancer

Washington (Web Desk/Agencies): 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 82-year-old received the diagnosis on Friday following a period of worsening urinary symptoms. Medical examinations identified a prostate nodule, prompting further tests that confirmed the cancer had reached an advanced stage.

Though the disease is described as aggressive, Biden’s doctors noted that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which makes it more responsive to available treatments.

The cancer has been assigned a Gleason score of 9 — one of the highest possible grades, indicating a severe and fast-spreading form. Biden and his family are currently exploring treatment options with medical experts.

While early-stage prostate cancer is highly treatable with a five-year survival rate near 100 percent, the outlook becomes significantly more serious once the cancer spreads beyond the prostate.

Data from Johns Hopkins Medicine places the survival rate for metastatic prostate cancer at around 28 percent.

Biden served as President from 2021 to 2025, but withdrew from his 2024 re-election campaign following a widely criticized debate performance in June that intensified concerns about his age and cognitive health.

His departure from the race cleared the way for then-Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee, though she ultimately lost the November election to former President Donald Trump.

In an unexpected gesture of goodwill, Trump offered his support to Biden, posting on social media, “We wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.” Harris also voiced her sympathy, describing Biden as “a fighter” and commending his resilience and optimism.

Former President Barack Obama praised Biden’s long-standing commitment to cancer research, stating, “Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe,” and expressed confidence in Biden’s ability to confront the illness with “resolve and grace.”

The announcement has renewed attention on Biden’s final year in office, particularly regarding allegations that his staff may have concealed the extent of his health issues. A forthcoming book titled Original Sin, authored by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson, alleges that Biden showed increasing signs of confusion during public appearances — incidents that reportedly alarmed White House insiders.

In a recent interview on The View, Biden rejected claims of cognitive decline, stating, “They are wrong. There’s nothing to sustain that.” He emphasized that his decision to end his re-election campaign stemmed from a desire to unite the Democratic Party, not because of any medical condition.

Senator Chris Murphy recently became one of several Democratic figures to suggest that nominating Biden for a second term may have been a strategic error. His comments came just before Biden’s cancer diagnosis was made public.

Biden’s commitment to cancer research has deep personal roots. His son, Beau Biden, passed away from brain cancer in 2015 — a loss that deeply influenced his advocacy and led to the launch of initiatives such as the Cancer Moonshot.