Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with a severe form of prostate cancer, his personal office confirmed over the weekend. The news quickly sparked an outpouring of sympathy and support from political allies, international leaders, and citizens across the country.
“Cancer touches us all,” Biden posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
The official statement released Sunday detailed that Biden was evaluated after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. A prostate nodule was found, and further testing revealed an aggressive form of prostate cancer, described by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) — the highest category on the scale, indicating a high probability of metastasis and rapid progression.
Doctors confirmed the disease has spread to the bone — a condition known as metastasis — but noted that the cancer appears hormone-sensitive, which could make it more responsive to certain therapies.
Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support. pic.twitter.com/oSS1vGIiwU
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 19, 2025
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” the statement noted. Biden is currently at home in Wilmington, Delaware, and is consulting with a team of doctors to consider multiple treatment options, including hormone therapy.
According to sources close to the Biden family, no decision has been made yet about the exact course of treatment or the facility where it will take place. A spokesperson for Biden’s office declined further comment.
Experts say the diagnosis is serious but not necessarily dire. Dr. Alan Tan, genitourinary oncology lead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, emphasized that while a Gleason score of 9 is classified as aggressive, prostate cancer in this stage is relatively common. “This is the most common thing I see in my clinic,” said Tan, who is not involved in Biden’s case.
Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it, and the hormone-sensitive nature of Biden’s tumor gives doctors room for optimism. Dr. Chris George of Northwestern Medicine noted that effective treatment could allow Biden to live for many more years with the disease under control.
The diagnosis drew bipartisan concern, with messages of encouragement coming from both allies and rivals.
President Biden’s health has been closely monitored for years. In 2021, he underwent a colonoscopy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, during which doctors removed a small, benign-looking 3 mm polyp from his colon. According to White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, it was considered a “slow-growing, but precancerous lesion” requiring no further action. A similar polyp had been removed back in 2008.
In February 2024, following his annual physical exam, Biden was described by Dr. O’Connor as a “healthy, active, robust 81-year-old.” However, during a routine checkup last Tuesday, a “small nodule” was discovered on his prostate, leading to the follow-up that resulted in the cancer diagnosis.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among older men. According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime. It is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men, trailing only lung cancer. While standard guidelines typically advise against routine PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing for men over 70, exceptions are made based on individual health and history.
“It’s always a risk-benefit analysis,” said Dr. Kavita Patel, a former Obama administration health official. “Given his role as vice president and then president, the benefit of screening was high. I’ve screened patients in their 80s who are otherwise healthy.”
Biden, now 82 and the oldest president in U.S. history, had already drawn scrutiny over his age and health during his controversial 2024 re-election campaign. Following a deeply divided Democratic primary, Biden eventually withdrew from the race — a move that some within the party say helped fuel Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.
But in the wake of his cancer diagnosis, the Democratic Party has largely put aside internal tensions, rallying around Biden and expressing gratitude for his decades of public service.
During his time in office, Biden made combating cancer one of his hallmark initiatives. He led the “Cancer Moonshot” effort — a public-private partnership launched in 2016 following the death of his son, Beau Biden, from brain cancer. The initiative aimed to reduce cancer deaths through funding research, expanding access to screenings, and accelerating medical innovation.
After stepping away from the 2024 race, Biden announced $150 million in new grants for advanced cancer treatment development and surgical support, vowing to continue the Moonshot’s momentum. According to the administration, nearly 8 million Americans have received no-cost screenings for various cancers under the program.
As the former president now faces his most personal battle with the disease, the nation watches — hopeful that the man who once championed the fight against cancer will again demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity.
