Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer that has spread, his personal office said in a statement May 18.
Joe Biden is facing a major health battle.
The former President of the United States, 82, was recently diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his personal office said
“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,” read the May 18 announcement, obtained by NBC News. “On Friday he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.”
The statement continued, “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management. The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
A source familiar with Biden and his family’s thinking told NBC News that “multiple” treatment options are being considered, include hormone treatment.
His spokesperson had disclosed May 13 that a “small nodule” was found on Biden’s prostate during a routine exam, “which necessitated further evaluation,” the outlet reported.
The news comes almost four months after Biden ended his term in January. During his time as President, he drew concerns about his age and health, despite doctor declaring him “fit for duty” in February after a routine physical exam at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Biden stepped down as the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential candidate last July, after which then-Vice President Kamala Harris took his place to begin campaigning against Donald Trump, who was voted President for the second time in the November election.
“Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” the U.S. leader wrote on Truth Social in response to the news on behalf of himself and First Lady Melania Trump. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
While Biden has largely kept out of the spotlight since leaving office as the oldest serving president in U.S. history, he recently gave a couple of rare interviews. In early May, Biden and wife Jill Biden appeared on The View, during which he responded to reports that he had suffered cognitive decline in his final year in office.
“They are wrong. There’s nothing to sustain that,” he said. “The only reason I got out of the race is because I didn’t want to have a divided Democratic Party.”
Biden also spoke to the BBC, noting that didn’t think passing the baton to Harris any earlier “would have mattered” when it came to the outcome of the election.
One month earlier, Biden spoke at a conference hosted by the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) and also made a rare public appearance at Pope Francis‘ funeral in Italy, along with his wife.
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