BIDEN'S CANCER
Joe Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones & looks ‘very abnormal’
Experts have warned Biden's cancerous cells are 'likely to grow quickly'
FORMER US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer which has spread to his bones.
Biden, 82, who served as president from 2021 to 2025, confirmed he had the advanced form of the disease in a statement from his personal office.
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Biden was seen last week by doctors after suffering urinary symptoms, with a prostate nodule then being found.
He was then diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.
While it is a more "aggressive" form of the disease, which looks "very abnormal", the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, meaning there would be the prospect of "effective management" of his illness.
The president and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his doctors.
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The statement from Biden's personal office read: "Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.
"On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.
"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."
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A Gleason score of 9 means the cancerous cells "look very abnormal" and that the disease is "likely to grow quickly", according to .
His diagnosis comes in similar way to King Charles, who announced he was suffering from cancer after having an unrelated procedure for an enlarged prostate.
What are the symptoms every man needs to know?
In most cases, prostate cancer doesn’t have any symptoms until the growth is big enough to put pressure on the urethra – that tube you pee through.
Symptoms include:
- Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
- Needing to rush to the toilet
- Difficulty in starting to pee
- Weak flow
- Straining and taking a long time while peeing
- Feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied fully
Many men’s prostates get larger as they age because of the non-cancerous conditions, prostate enlargement, and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
In fact, these two conditions are more common than prostate cancer – but that doesn’t mean the symptoms should be ignored.
The signs that cancer has SPREAD include bone, back, or testicular pain, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss.
Biden has previously struggled with his physical health, with some saying he had grappled with numerous health issues during his final year in office.
Biden served as US president from 2021 to 2025, with his term ending on January 20 when Donald Trump took office.
There had been reports in the past Biden was "disoriented and out of it" during cabinet talks and that he had also struggled to recall certain memories, including that of his son Beau's tragic death in 2015.
Biden was also forced to step down from his campaign for a second term in office, with the Democratic Party nomination being succeeded by his much-younger vice-president Kamala Harris, amid fears over Biden's cognitive health.
His departure was precipitated by a poor performance in a presidential debate against Republican opponent Trump during the campaign.
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Even before his final year in the Oval Office, there had been concerns over the president's coughing and a number of stumbles he made while in the presidency.
This also isn't the first time the former president has been diagnosed with cancer.
Before assuming the presidency, Biden had a number of "localized, non-melanoma skin cancers" removed by surgery.
Non-melanoma skin cancer typically develops in the areas of the body most exposed to the sun such as the face, ears, hands, shoulders, upper chest, and back.
In November 2021, Biden had a polyp removed from his colon that was a benign, but potentially pre-cancerous lesion.
And in February 2023, he had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer.
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The former president had also made cancer moonshot one of his administration's top priorities in 2022 - it aimed to halve the death rate of cancer by 2047.
The initiative was a continuation of his work as vice president to address a disease that had killed his older son, Beau.
Now, the 82-year-old is suffering from an advanced form of prostate cancer, which has metastasized to the bone.
When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often spreads to the bones.
Metastasized cancer is much harder to treat than localized cancer because it can be hard for drugs to reach all the tumors and completely root out the disease.
However, when prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden's case, they can be vulnerable to treatment that keeps hormones away from the tumors.
Leaders around the world have shared their best wishes for Biden in his health battle.
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis.
"We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."
The daughter of late Republican Senator John McCain - who died of brain cancer - also sent her best to Biden, saying: “Cancer is the absolute worst. It is hell.
"It is incredibly difficult for any family, anywhere that has to deal with it.
"Wishing nothing but healing, prayers, light and strength to President Biden and his family.
"I don’t believe times like these are appropriate for politics.”
Democratic Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, added: “Our hearts are with President Biden and his entire family right now.
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"A man of dignity, strength, and compassion like his deserves to live a long and beautiful life.
"Sending strength, healing and prayers his way.”
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