Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, which has spread to his bones, his office confirmed on Sunday. The 82-year-old Democrat, who recently left office as the oldest US president, began experiencing worsening urinary symptoms before being diagnosed. A prostate nodule led to the discovery of the cancer.
The cancer is hormone-sensitive, allowing for potential effective management, although it remains an aggressive form of the disease. Biden and his family are now exploring treatment options with his medical team.
Prostate cancer is common in men of Biden’s age, though most cases grow slowly. Hormone therapy is a typical treatment, slowing tumor growth but not curing the disease. Biden’s condition has been graded with a Gleason score of 9, which is considered a high-risk category.
Biden’s health has been a frequent topic of concern throughout his presidency, with critics questioning his physical and mental capacity for the job. Last July, Biden dropped his reelection bid after a lackluster debate performance against Donald Trump, fueling concerns about his cognitive abilities.
A new book, “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” is set for release this Tuesday and revisits these questions. Additionally, recent audio of Biden stumbling over his words and memory lapses has reignited discussions about his fitness for office.
Throughout his life, Biden has faced significant personal challenges, including the tragic death of his wife and daughter in a 1972 car crash, brain surgery for aneurysms in 1988, and the death of his son Beau from brain cancer in 2015.