Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasised to his bones. His office announced the diagnosis on Sunday, stating the cancer appears hormone-sensitive, offering potential for effective treatment.
"Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,” read a statement from Biden’s personal office. “On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.”
The 82-year-old is now evaluating treatment options with his family and medical team. His office confirmed that although this represents a more advanced stage of the disease, “the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.”
Also Read: Joe Biden diagnosed with Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer: What is a Gleason Score?
The Gleason score measures how aggressive a prostate tumour appears under a microscope. A score of 9 out of 10, as in Biden’s case, suggests the cancer is highly abnormal and fast-growing.
Dr. Herbert Lepor, a urologist at NYU Langone, said this score is “very high risk,” but emphasised that many men live “five to 10 years and beyond” even with metastatic prostate cancer. “Over the last decade, there have been many advances in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer,” he added.
Dr Otis Brawley, a medical oncologist at Johns Hopkins University, explained: “If I have a Gleason Score of 6, it is almost never metastatic. If I have a 7, 8, 9 or 10, it can be metastatic. As the number goes up, the likelihood of it being metastatic goes up.”
Joe Biden Prostate Cancer: How was it detected
Biden’s diagnosis followed reports of increasing urinary symptoms. According to the Cleveland Clinic, such symptoms may include frequent urination, especially at night, weak or interrupted urine flow, pain during urination or ejaculation, and blood in the urine or semen. Bone pain in the hips, back, or chest may also indicate the cancer has spread.
Dr Brawley noted that Biden likely underwent a PET scan to detect the spread to his bones, and said that earlier tests might not have shown signs of the disease. “This happens all the time,” he said. “It is not a very good screening test, and we need a better test.”
Joe Biden Prostate Cancer: What are the treatment options
While non-metastatic prostate cancer has a five-year survival rate of nearly 98%, this rate drops significantly when the disease spreads. According to the Mayo Clinic, metastatic prostate cancer has a survival rate of about 37%.
Dr William Dahut, chief scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, said, “Once it spreads to the bones, in general we no longer consider this a curable cancer, although there are therapies that are very effective at treating the cancer.”
Treatment typically involves hormone therapy, which blocks testosterone to slow cancer growth. Dahut added, “He could definitely live many years with this… In the most aggressive cases, under a year, but there are reports of people living 15 or 20 years, too.”
Dr Jason Efstathiou, a radiation oncologist at Mass General Brigham, said, “Speaking generally, for all comers with bone metastatic prostate cancer at diagnosis, the median survival is on the order of about three to five years. Some patients live much longer.”
Joe Biden Prostate Cancer: Reactions
Biden’s diagnosis drew bipartisan expressions of support. Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement: “Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership.”
President Donald Trump, Biden’s 2020 and 2024 rival, also responded with sympathy. “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” he wrote on Truth Social. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Biden’s health had been under scrutiny during his presidency. He chose not to seek re-election in 2024, stepping aside after a widely criticised debate performance. His age and acuity had already stirred concern among Democrats and voters alike.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy admitted it had been a mistake to ignore public concerns: “It was a mistake for Democrats to not listen to the voters earlier,” he told NBC before the diagnosis was made public.
Despite stepping out of the political spotlight, Biden remained vocal about his legacy. In April, he defended Social Security in a rare public speech and recently dismissed claims of cognitive decline during interviews. “They are wrong,” he said on ABC’s “The View.”
Why is prostate cancer a growing concern?
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men globally and a leading cause of cancer deaths. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 1 in 8 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed in their lifetime. In 2022, over 3.5 million American men were living with the disease.
It is the most diagnosed cancer in 112 countries and the leading cause of cancer death in 48. While some forms are slow-growing and treatable, others are aggressive and spread rapidly — as seen in Biden’s case.
The disease has affected many public figures, including Robert De Niro, Ian McKellen, Colin Powell, and Jerry Brown. Biden’s own son, Beau, died in 2015 from brain cancer, making this diagnosis a personal challenge as well.
In 2022, Biden relaunched the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative to reduce cancer deaths by 50%. Now, that mission has taken on a deeper, more personal resonance.
"Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,” read a statement from Biden’s personal office. “On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.”
The 82-year-old is now evaluating treatment options with his family and medical team. His office confirmed that although this represents a more advanced stage of the disease, “the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.”
Also Read: Joe Biden diagnosed with Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer: What is a Gleason Score?
The Gleason score measures how aggressive a prostate tumour appears under a microscope. A score of 9 out of 10, as in Biden’s case, suggests the cancer is highly abnormal and fast-growing.
Dr. Herbert Lepor, a urologist at NYU Langone, said this score is “very high risk,” but emphasised that many men live “five to 10 years and beyond” even with metastatic prostate cancer. “Over the last decade, there have been many advances in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer,” he added.
Dr Otis Brawley, a medical oncologist at Johns Hopkins University, explained: “If I have a Gleason Score of 6, it is almost never metastatic. If I have a 7, 8, 9 or 10, it can be metastatic. As the number goes up, the likelihood of it being metastatic goes up.”
Joe Biden Prostate Cancer: How was it detected
Biden’s diagnosis followed reports of increasing urinary symptoms. According to the Cleveland Clinic, such symptoms may include frequent urination, especially at night, weak or interrupted urine flow, pain during urination or ejaculation, and blood in the urine or semen. Bone pain in the hips, back, or chest may also indicate the cancer has spread.
Dr Brawley noted that Biden likely underwent a PET scan to detect the spread to his bones, and said that earlier tests might not have shown signs of the disease. “This happens all the time,” he said. “It is not a very good screening test, and we need a better test.”
Joe Biden Prostate Cancer: What are the treatment options
While non-metastatic prostate cancer has a five-year survival rate of nearly 98%, this rate drops significantly when the disease spreads. According to the Mayo Clinic, metastatic prostate cancer has a survival rate of about 37%.
Dr William Dahut, chief scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, said, “Once it spreads to the bones, in general we no longer consider this a curable cancer, although there are therapies that are very effective at treating the cancer.”
Treatment typically involves hormone therapy, which blocks testosterone to slow cancer growth. Dahut added, “He could definitely live many years with this… In the most aggressive cases, under a year, but there are reports of people living 15 or 20 years, too.”
Dr Jason Efstathiou, a radiation oncologist at Mass General Brigham, said, “Speaking generally, for all comers with bone metastatic prostate cancer at diagnosis, the median survival is on the order of about three to five years. Some patients live much longer.”
Joe Biden Prostate Cancer: Reactions
Biden’s diagnosis drew bipartisan expressions of support. Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement: “Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership.”
President Donald Trump, Biden’s 2020 and 2024 rival, also responded with sympathy. “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” he wrote on Truth Social. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Biden’s health had been under scrutiny during his presidency. He chose not to seek re-election in 2024, stepping aside after a widely criticised debate performance. His age and acuity had already stirred concern among Democrats and voters alike.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy admitted it had been a mistake to ignore public concerns: “It was a mistake for Democrats to not listen to the voters earlier,” he told NBC before the diagnosis was made public.
Despite stepping out of the political spotlight, Biden remained vocal about his legacy. In April, he defended Social Security in a rare public speech and recently dismissed claims of cognitive decline during interviews. “They are wrong,” he said on ABC’s “The View.”
Why is prostate cancer a growing concern?
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men globally and a leading cause of cancer deaths. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 1 in 8 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed in their lifetime. In 2022, over 3.5 million American men were living with the disease.
It is the most diagnosed cancer in 112 countries and the leading cause of cancer death in 48. While some forms are slow-growing and treatable, others are aggressive and spread rapidly — as seen in Biden’s case.
The disease has affected many public figures, including Robert De Niro, Ian McKellen, Colin Powell, and Jerry Brown. Biden’s own son, Beau, died in 2015 from brain cancer, making this diagnosis a personal challenge as well.
In 2022, Biden relaunched the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative to reduce cancer deaths by 50%. Now, that mission has taken on a deeper, more personal resonance.
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