Joe Biden Battles Cancer After Leaving Office
JOE BIDEN – The former U.S. President, 82, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, according to a statement from his office.
The diagnosis was made last Friday after he experienced urinary symptoms. Tests revealed a high Gleason score of 9, indicating a serious case. Despite the severity, doctors say the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which means it can still be managed with the appropriate treatment. Biden and his family are currently discussing treatment options with his medical team.
The news comes months after Biden ended his bid for re-election in July 2024, following a poor debate performance against Republican candidate Donald Trump. Concerns about his age and mental sharpness had already raised alarms among Democrats and the public. Many party members later admitted it was a mistake not to take voters’ concerns about Biden’s health more seriously.
Biden’s medical history includes surgeries for brain aneurysms in 1988, the removal of a skin lesion in 2023, and the loss of his son Beau to brain cancer in 2015. That personal tragedy led him to spearhead the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative under President Obama. As president, Biden revived the program in 2022, aiming to reduce cancer deaths by 50% over 25 years.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the U.S. One in eight men are diagnosed with it during their lifetime. While highly treatable when detected early, it remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men.
Following the announcement, Trump expressed sympathy, saying he hopes for Biden’s recovery. Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee but lost to Trump in the last election, described him as a fighter and praised his strength and resilience.