Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, according to a statement from his office released on Sunday.
The diagnosis was made on Friday after Biden, 82, sought medical attention for urinary symptoms. He and his family are currently consulting with doctors to determine the best course of treatment. Despite the cancer’s severity, it is reported to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective treatment and management options.
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The CDC reports that in 2021, out of 236,659 prostate cancer cases, around 70% were detected before the disease spread beyond the prostate. Only about 8% were found to be in an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis.
Biden’s health had been a topic of public discussion during his presidency from 2021 to 2025. He withdrew from the 2024 re-election race last July following a poorly received debate performance against Donald Trump, which raised concerns within the Democratic Party.
In a surprising show of support, former President Trump shared a message on Truth Social, expressing sympathy for Biden and his wife Jill. Trump, alongside his wife Melania, extended well wishes for Biden’s recovery.
Biden’s office noted that his cancer was graded nine out of ten on the Gleason score, a system used to evaluate the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Dr. Herbert Lepor, a urologist from NYU Langone, described this score as “very high risk” but stated that with current medical advances, patients with metastatic prostate cancer can often live five to ten years or longer.
