Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, his office announced Sunday. The 82-year-old former president was diagnosed Friday after reporting urinary symptoms that prompted medical evaluation.
Advanced Disease with Aggressive Features
Biden's cancer has a Gleason score of 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, indicating one of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer. The disease has metastasized to his bones, classifying it as Stage 4 cancer. A prostate nodule was initially discovered during a medical examination on Tuesday.
"While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management," Biden's office stated. "The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians."
Treatment Outlook and Survival Statistics
The American Cancer Society reports that five-year survival rates for metastatic prostate cancer are 37%, significantly lower than the 99% survival rate when the disease is caught in earlier stages. However, the hormone-sensitive nature of Biden's cancer provides more treatment options than were available just a few years ago.
Dr. Judd Moul, a prostate cancer expert at Duke University, noted that men with Biden's diagnosis "can live five, seven, 10 or more years." He emphasized that "survival rates have almost tripled in the last decade" due to advances in treatment approaches.
Modern Treatment Approaches
Current treatment strategies for hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer typically begin with androgen deprivation therapy combined with androgen receptor-targeted therapy. These treatments work by blocking the hormone supply that allows cancer cells to grow. Additional options may include chemotherapy or radiotherapy, depending on the specific characteristics of the disease.
The 2023 American Society for Clinical Oncology guidelines highlight the complexity of treating metastatic prostate cancer while noting that new therapeutic approaches offer hope for improved outcomes in selected patients.
Screening Considerations for Older Adults
Biden's diagnosis occurred outside the typical screening window, as most medical organizations recommend discontinuing routine prostate cancer screening at age 70. The former president was tested because he developed symptoms, illustrating the importance of symptom-based evaluation in older adults.
Prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States, behind lung cancer. However, a study published in JAMA Network Open found that many deaths in patients with metastatic prostate cancer result from other causes rather than the cancer itself.
Personal and Political Context
The diagnosis comes less than four months after Biden left office following his decision to abandon his 2024 re-election bid. Questions about his age and health had surrounded his campaign, particularly after a debate performance in June 2024.
Cancer has significantly impacted the Biden family. His eldest son, Beau Biden, died of brain cancer in 2015, prompting the launch of the Cancer Moonshot initiative aimed at preventing 4 million cancer deaths by 2047 and improving the lives of those living with cancer.
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris both issued statements of support following the announcement. Trump wrote, "Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."
Biden has previously faced serious health challenges, including surviving two brain aneurysms in 1988. Since leaving office, he has remained largely out of the public spotlight, residing in Delaware with occasional trips to Washington.
