Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an advanced form of prostate cancer, a statement from his office disclosed on Sunday.
The 82-year-old, who left office earlier this year, is said to be battling a high-grade, hormone-sensitive form of the disease that has spread to his bones.
Biden’s diagnosis came after he sought medical attention last week for worsening urinary symptoms. Doctors identified a prostate nodule, and subsequent tests revealed a Gleason score of 9 — one of the most aggressive grades for prostate cancer — alongside confirmed bone metastases.
“This represents a more aggressive form of the disease,” his office confirmed. “However, it appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.”
The former president and his family are currently reviewing treatment options, including hormone therapy to help slow the cancer’s spread and manage symptoms. Experts note that while metastatic prostate cancer is not considered curable, it is often manageable with modern therapies, especially in its hormone-sensitive stage.
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News of Biden’s condition triggered bipartisan expressions of sympathy and support. President Donald Trump, now serving his second term, posted on Truth Social that he and First Lady Melania Trump were “saddened” by the news and extended “warmest and best wishes” to Biden and his family.
Former Vice-President Kamala Harris, who succeeded Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024, said she and her husband were praying for Biden’s recovery. “Joe is a fighter,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “He’ll face this with the same resilience that has defined his life.”
Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as Vice-President, also voiced support. “Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer,” he wrote, referencing the “cancer moonshot” initiative Biden led in 2016. “We pray for a fast and full recovery.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also issued a statement wishing Biden well in his treatment and praising his contributions to global health initiatives.
The diagnosis comes nearly a year after Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, citing age and health concerns following a lackluster debate performance against Trump. He was replaced on the ticket by Harris, who ultimately lost the election.
Biden has kept a relatively low profile since leaving office, with limited public appearances. In May, he gave his first post-White House interview to the BBC and appeared on “The View,” where he denied speculation of cognitive decline. Just weeks earlier, he delivered a keynote speech at a disability advocacy conference in Chicago.
The former president has been a vocal advocate for cancer research for years, especially following the death of his son, Beau Biden, from brain cancer in 2015. In 2022, he relaunched the “cancer moonshot” initiative, aiming to prevent over four million cancer deaths by 2047.
While experts caution that his form of prostate cancer is serious, many patients with similar diagnoses live for years with treatment. Dr. William Dahut of the American Cancer Society told the BBC that hormonal therapy is the most likely first step in Biden’s care.
Reported by BBC
