Joe Biden Faces Aggressive Prostate Cancer Diagnosis with Bone Metastasis

Former President Joe Biden faces a tough new chapter as his office confirmed a diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer, with metastasis to the bone, on Sunday. The 82-year-old, the oldest living U.S. president, underwent tests last week after urinary symptoms led to the discovery of a prostate nodule. By Friday, doctors confirmed the cancer, rated a severe Gleason score of 9, signaling a high-risk case.

Despite the grim outlook, Biden’s team remains hopeful, noting the cancer’s hormone sensitivity offers pathways for effective treatment. Biden and his family are now weighing options with his medical team, approaching the challenge with the same resolve he’s shown in past health battles. During his presidency, Biden had a cancerous skin lesion removed, and decades earlier, he survived two life-threatening brain aneurysms as a Delaware senator.

Cancer has long been personal for Biden. His administration championed the Cancer Moonshot initiative, relaunched to slash U.S. cancer deaths by half over 25 years. The program pushes for better data-sharing among researchers, a mission Biden tied to breaking down barriers in science. Now, his own diagnosis underscores the urgency of that fight, as cancer remains America’s second-leading cause of death, with over 2 million new cases projected in 2024.