Former President Joe Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with a notably “aggressive” form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, as announced by his Democratic office on Sunday. Following some urinary symptoms, doctors found a nodule in his prostate, leading to the diagnosis. The Biden family is currently exploring treatment options.

The statement from his office clarified, “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, cancer is hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management. The president and his family are discussing treatment choices with his physician.”

This news is especially poignant as Biden’s son, Bo, passed away from cancer in 2015. Furthermore, Biden’s cancer has a “Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5),” indicating its severity.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer among men, with a lifetime diagnosis rate of one in eight in the United States. While treatable when caught early, it ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men.

Reactions from Political Colleagues

In response to Biden’s diagnosis, former President Donald Trump expressed sadness over the news. He conveyed warm wishes to Biden’s family, including his wife, Jill Biden, hoping for a quick and successful recovery.

Kamala Harris, Biden’s vice president, took to social media to highlight Biden’s resilience: “Joe is a fighter. He has always faced challenges with strength and optimism, and we look forward to his complete recovery.”

Former President Barack Obama also conveyed his wishes for Biden’s health via social media.

Biden had to suspend his re-election campaign last July following a difficult debate with Trump, which raised concerns about his health and mental acuity. This situation allowed Harris to gain more support, but ultimately, she lost to Trump.

Biden, who initially won against Trump in the 2020 election, has maintained he intended to run for the 2024 election, even as skepticism about his capability has circulated among staff and key Democrats.

Earlier Remarks Surface

In light of Biden’s current diagnosis, past remarks from 2022 resurfaced when he spoke about having cancer himself during an event in Massachusetts. He remarked on the high cancer rates in Delaware, linking it to his upbringing.

He had stated, “And what do you guess? The first frost, you knew what was going on. You had to put a windshield wiper to smooth out the window… my mother’s actions contributed to the high cancer rates around,” which raised eyebrows at the time.

Later, it was clarified that Biden was referring to skin cancer he had removed prior to his presidency.