BlogHear News Desk
Date: May 18, 2025
Former U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office confirmed in a statement released on Sunday.
The cancer was discovered last Friday after Biden reported urinary symptoms, leading doctors to detect a small nodule on his prostate. Further examination confirmed a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), indicating a high-grade, fast-spreading cancer.
While the diagnosis is serious, his medical team said the cancer appears hormone-sensitive, which provides options for effective management and treatment.
“This represents a more aggressive form of the disease,” the statement read. “But it is hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management.”
Concerns Over Biden’s Health and Political Legacy
Biden left office in January 2025 as the oldest-serving U.S. president in history. His health had been a central issue throughout his presidency and contributed to his decision to drop out of the 2024 election race, late in the campaign season.
This latest diagnosis has reignited public discussion about his health during his final months in office. Despite stepping back from public life, Biden gave a BBC interview in May—his first since leaving the White House—where he described the decision to withdraw from the race as “difficult” and defended his cognitive health.
Bipartisan Support and Global Reactions
Leaders from across the political spectrum and around the world offered their support. President Donald Trump, who succeeded Biden, shared a message via Truth Social:
“We are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family. We wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Former President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as Vice President, also voiced support on social media:
“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer than Joe. We pray for a fast and full recovery.”
Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff said they are keeping the Biden family in their prayers.
In the United Kingdom, newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer added:
“All the very best to Joe, his wife Jill and their family, and wishing the president swift and successful treatment.”
Prostate Cancer: A Closer Look
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, following skin cancer. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 13 out of every 100 men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. Age is the most significant risk factor.
Dr. William Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society, noted the severity of Biden’s diagnosis:
“In general, if cancer has spread to the bones, we don’t consider it curable. However, many patients respond well to initial treatments and can live for years.”
Treatment will likely involve hormonal therapies to manage symptoms and slow the cancer’s progression.
Biden’s Advocacy for Cancer Research
Joe Biden has long championed cancer research. In 2016, he led the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative under President Obama. In 2022, he and First Lady Jill Biden relaunched the initiative with a goal to prevent over 4 million cancer deaths by 2047.
The effort is also deeply personal for Biden. His eldest son, Beau Biden, died of brain cancer in 2015.
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