Former U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office announced Sunday. The diagnosis came after Biden sought medical help last week for urinary symptoms.
The cancer is classified as high-grade, with a Gleason score of 9 out of 10, indicating that the cancer cells could spread quickly. However, the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which means it can likely be managed with treatment.
Biden and his family are currently reviewing treatment options. His office stated, “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management.”
The news drew support from political leaders across the U.S. Former President Donald Trump expressed his wishes for a speedy recovery, and Vice President Kamala Harris praised Biden’s strength and resilience. Former President Barack Obama also sent his support, highlighting Biden’s long history of fighting cancer through research initiatives.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, with age being the biggest risk factor. Experts note that while cancer spread to the bones is serious, many patients respond well to treatment and can live for many years.
Biden, who left office in January, had largely stayed out of the public eye but recently spoke at a conference and gave an interview reflecting on his decision to not run in the 2024 election due to health concerns.
Throughout his career, Biden has been a strong advocate for cancer research, relaunching the “cancer moonshot” initiative in 2022. He also lost his eldest son, Beau Biden, to brain cancer in 2015.
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