The 82-year-old statesman’s cancer has spread to his bones, prompting an outpouring of support from across the political spectrum
Former 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 sobering announcement comes less than a year after the 46th president stepped away from politics following his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management. The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians,” the statement said.
Medical experts note that hormone sensitivity typically allows for more treatment options, potentially offering a more optimistic prognosis despite the advanced nature of the disease.
Serious diagnosis details emerge
According to Biden’s medical team, the former president initially sought treatment after experiencing urinary symptoms, leading to the discovery of a prostate nodule. Further testing revealed cancer with “a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group” 5)”—a measurement that indicates a particularly aggressive form of the disease.
The American Cancer Society classifies Grade 5 prostate cancer as tissue that looks “very abnormal,” representing the highest grade on the scale. The Gleason scoring system, which ranges up to 10, further underscores the seriousness of Biden’s condition.
While prostate cancer remains the most common form of cancer among men in the United States, with one in eight men receiving a diagnosis during their lifetime, Biden’s case represents a more advanced stage of the disease. Though highly treatable when discovered early, prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among American men.
The diagnosis carries particular emotional weight for the Biden family, who previously lost the president’s son, Beau Biden, to brain cancer in 2015 — a personal tragedy that profoundly shaped the elder Biden’s later political career and healthcare advocacy.
Political rivals offer support
In a notable moment of political unity, President Donald Trump, who defeated Biden’s successor Kamala Harris in the 2024 election after Biden withdrew from the race, expressed sympathy for his longtime political rival.
“We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to First Lady Jill Biden.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who stepped in as the Democratic nominee following Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential contest, offered words of encouragement on social platform X: “Joe is a fighter. I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”
Former President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as vice president for eight years, also shared his support online. “Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family. Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery,” Obama wrote.
Political context resurfaces
Biden’s health announcement comes against the backdrop of continued scrutiny regarding his decision to initially pursue reelection before ultimately stepping aside in July 2024 following a widely criticized debate performance against Trump.
The timing coincides with renewed public discussion about Biden’s health during his final months in office, prompted by an upcoming book examining his “disastrous” bid for reelection and the recent publication of recordings in which the former president appears to struggle with recall and articulation.
The former president has maintained that he could have won reelection despite these challenges, though questions have persisted regarding how his staff and Democratic Party leadership responded to apparent signs of decline.
Previous cancer history clarified
The announcement has also resurfaced a 2022 incident in which then-President Biden, while speaking at a former coal-fired power plant in Massachusetts, made comments that briefly caused confusion about his medical history.
“And guess what? The first frost, you knew what was happening. You had to put on your windshield wipers to get, literally, the oil slick off the window. That’s why I and so damn many other people I grew up (with) have cancer and why can — for the longest time, Delaware had the highest cancer rate in the nation,” Biden said at the time.
The White House subsequently clarified that the president was referring to previously treated skin cancers that had been removed before he took office — a significantly less serious condition than his current diagnosis.
Biden, who has long been an advocate for cancer research following his son’s death, helped spearhead the Cancer Moonshot initiative during the Obama administration. That program aimed to accelerate cancer research and improve prevention, detection, and treatment options.
Medical experts note that treatment options for advanced prostate cancer have improved significantly in recent years, potentially offering more optimistic outcomes even for aggressive cases like Biden’s.
