Former President Joe Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer

[army judge]

Former President Joe Biden speaks at a conference in Chicago, April 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office said Sunday.

Biden was seen by doctors last week after urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule were found. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.

"While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management," his office said. "The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians."

Prostate cancers are given a score called a Gleason score that measures, on a scale of 1 to 10, how the cancerous cells look compared with normal cells. Biden's office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.

When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often spreads to the bones. Metastasized cancer is much harder to treat than localized cancer because it can be hard for drugs to reach all the tumors and completely root out the disease.

However, when prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden's case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones.

The health of Biden, 82, was a dominant concern among voters during his time as president. After a calamitous debate performance in June while seeking reelection, Biden abandoned his bid for a second term. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee and lost to Republican Donald Trump, who returned to the White House after a four-year hiatus.

But in recent days, Biden rejected concerns about his age despite reporting in the new book "Original Sin" by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson that aides had shielded the public from the extent of his decline while serving as president.

In February 2023, Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. And in November 2021, he had a polyp removed from his colon that was a benign, but potentially pre-cancerous lesion.

In 2022, Biden made a "cancer moonshot" one of his administration's priorities with the goal of halving the cancer death rate over the next 25 years. The initiative was a continuation of his work as vice president to address a disease that had killed his older son, Beau, who died from brain cancer in 2015.

His father, when announcing the goal to halve the cancer death rate, said this could be an "American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things."

Biden has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer

Former President Joe Biden's office says he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Biden was seen last week by doctors after urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule were found.

apnews.com

 

[Tax Counsel]

I wouldn't wish that diagnosis on anyone. He's going to have tough days ahead in this battle. The cancer may be responsible, at least in part, for the notable lack of energy Biden had in the last year of his presidency. Thirty years ago I lived in Chester county PA, which shares a border with Delaware. At the time Biden was a senator from Delaware and was often in the news in the Philly area. Back then he displayed a great deal of energy and enthusiasm for his work and life generally. It's sad to see the toll that age and declining age have taken on him. Most of us, should we live long enough, will experience decline and mounting health problems towards the end of our lives. I hope Biden is able to pull through this and not experience too much pain and sickness while going through treatment.

 

[army judge]

One isn't wise to dance on the grave of a deceased individual, or cheer the medical woes of others.

Biden's politics were diametrically opposite to mine, however his current medical maladies will eventually stricken others.

That said, I never wish hurt, harm, or death upon other human beings. Life is a struggle at times, it's path is littered with obstacles and challenges.

Retribution isn't within my purview or baliwick. From one human being to another, I pray that all afflicted with medical challenges and maladies can eventually overcome them and return to wellness. Finally, we're only allowed one lifetime to live. I'm too darned busy trying to live my life, to giggle, grin, and gloat over the medical challenges others encounter and face.