Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, his office confirmed in a public statement Sunday.
The diagnosis followed a recent physical exam in which doctors discovered a small nodule on Biden’s prostate. Further evaluation led to a diagnosis of prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9, the highest grade group indicating a fast-growing and potentially dangerous form of the disease.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management,” the statement read.
Biden, 82, and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his medical team.
The former president’s longtime physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, had declared him “fit to serve” as recently as February 2024 after a routine examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The latest diagnosis, however, raises new concerns about the health of the nation’s oldest living president.
Biden previously had a cancerous skin lesion, a basal cell carcinoma, removed from his chest following a physical in February 2023. The lesion was successfully treated, and no further intervention was required. He also survived two brain aneurysms in the 1980s during his tenure as a U.S. senator.
The news arrives amid ongoing scrutiny over how the former president’s health was portrayed during his time in office. A new book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson alleges that discussions within Biden’s inner circle included possibly using a wheelchair during a second term had he won re-election.
Additionally, audio recordings from an October 2023 interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur, recently released by Axios, fueled speculation about Biden’s cognitive decline after he struggled to recall key events from his own life.
Despite political tensions, several figures across the political spectrum expressed support for Biden following the announcement.
President Donald Trump posted a message of goodwill 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.”
Vice President Kamala Harris also offered words of support on social media, calling Biden a fighter and expressing hope for a full and speedy recovery.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight men will be diagnosed during their lifetime, and the condition becomes increasingly common with age. Estimates suggest up to 80% of men in their 80s may develop some form of the disease.
Throughout his career, Biden has made cancer research a major focus. As vice president under Barack Obama, he led the launch of the Cancer Moonshot initiative in 2016. The program was later revitalized during his presidency to reduce cancer-related deaths in the U.S. by half over the next 25 years through increased data sharing and research collaboration.
Cancer remains the second-leading cause of death in the United States, with projections for 2024 indicating over 610,000 deaths from the disease.
Biden’s office has not yet disclosed which treatment path he will pursue, but stated he will remain closely monitored by his physicians in the coming weeks.