Joe Biden’s office confirmed Sunday afternoon that the former president has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
According to the statement, Biden underwent an evaluation last week after experiencing increased urinary symptoms. Tests revealed a prostate nodule, and on Friday, doctors confirmed it was cancerous. The diagnosis indicated an aggressive form of prostate cancer, with a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) and evidence of bone metastasis.
Despite the seriousness of the condition, doctors noted that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which makes treatment more manageable. Biden and his family are now considering treatment options with his medical team.
A Gleason score of 9 suggests the cancer cells are highly abnormal and prone to rapid spread. Grade Group 5 is the most severe category, typically linked to a higher risk of metastasis and a more complex prognosis. However, the hormone-sensitive nature of the cancer provides a promising treatment pathway, according to the National Cancer Institute.
As news of Biden’s diagnosis circulated, several public figures responded.
Former President Donald Trump said he was saddened by the news, writing on Truth Social: “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We send our warmest wishes to Jill and the family and hope Joe has a swift and successful recovery.”
Barack Obama shared his support on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Michelle and I are keeping the Biden family in our thoughts. Joe has done more than anyone to support cancer research, and I know he will face this challenge with strength and grace. We’re praying for a full and speedy recovery.”
Vice President Kamala Harris also expressed her support on X, saying she and her husband Doug Emhoff are praying for Biden. “Joe is a fighter — and I know he’ll take on this battle with the same strength and optimism that have defined his leadership,” she wrote.
Pete Buttigieg, Biden’s former Transportation Secretary, shared on X that he and his husband Chasten were praying for Biden, describing him as “a man of deep faith and extraordinary resilience.”
A spokesperson confirmed that the prostate nodule was discovered during a routine checkup and required further examination.
In 2023, while still in office, Biden had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest. Before his presidency, he also underwent treatment for several non-melanoma skin cancers using Mohs surgery.
At that time, White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor stated, “The biopsy confirmed the lesion was basal cell carcinoma. All cancerous tissue was removed successfully. No further treatment was needed.”
Biden’s health has been under public scrutiny, particularly after he withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, paving the way for Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee.
Earlier this month on ABC’s The View, both Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, dismissed recent reports suggesting he had cognitive decline at the end of his presidency. “They’re wrong. There’s nothing to support that,” Biden said.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. An estimated 313,780 new cases are expected this year, accounting for 15.4% of all new cancer diagnoses, with roughly 35,770 projected deaths (5.8% of all cancer deaths). Despite these numbers, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is approximately 98%.
Although prostate cancer can spread, it often grows slowly and is generally treatable — even when it has already advanced.