Joe Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer—Treatment Options Underway as Nation Reacts
Former President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, marking a serious chapter in the life of America’s oldest-ever elected president. The diagnosis came last Friday following medical visits for ongoing urinary issues, and tests confirmed a Gleason score of 9 out of 10, indicating a highly aggressive form of the disease.
The cancer has spread to his bones, a development that makes treatment more challenging than it would be for a localized tumor. However, Biden’s team remains cautiously optimistic. According to a statement from his office, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, meaning it could respond well to certain targeted treatments. Biden and his family are now in discussions with physicians to finalize the next steps in his care.
Support poured in across party lines, with former President Donald Trump issuing a rare gesture of unity, saying,
“Melania and I are saddened to hear [this]… we extend our warmest and best wishes to [the Bidens], and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, who succeeded Biden on the 2024 ticket, also spoke out, stating,
“Joe is a fighter, and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership.”
Health concerns surrounded Biden’s time in office and his eventual decision not to seek reelection. Over the years, he’s undergone multiple procedures, including the removal of a benign precancerous polyp in 2021 and a cancerous skin lesion in 2023.
Ironically, one of the key pillars of his presidency was his “Cancer Moonshot” initiative—a national goal to halve cancer death rates over 25 years. Critics, including Trump, claimed the effort yielded little, while Biden’s allies pointed to renewed funding and public awareness as key early steps.
Now, with Biden facing the disease personally, the mission has taken on an even deeper meaning. And whether you’re blue, red, or somewhere in between, America is united in one hope: that he—and all others facing cancer—get the treatment and strength they need to fight on.
