Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to an official statement released by his office on Sunday
The diagnosis follows the discovery of a small nodule during a routine physical exam, which led to further evaluation. Medical tests confirmed a Gleason score of 9, indicating a Grade Group 5 cancer—the most severe category. The cancer has metastasized to his bones, meaning it has spread beyond the prostate. While the condition is serious, doctors noted that it appears to be hormone-sensitive, making it potentially responsive to treatment. Biden, who is currently at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, is reviewing treatment options with his family and medical team, including the possibility of hormone therapy. The former president has a history of health concerns, including the removal of a cancerous lesion from his chest in 2023 and several non-melanoma skin cancers before his presidency.
What to Know About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the U.S., according to the NIH. It forms in the prostate, a small gland that produces semen. An estimated 313,780 new cases will be diagnosed this year, making up over 15% of all new cancer cases.
About 12.9% of men will be diagnosed in their lifetime, with a five-year survival rate of around 98%. Though it often grows slowly, prostate cancer is generally treatable, even when it spreads. The median age at diagnosis is 68, and 35,770 deaths are expected this year.
Community Support for Biden: A Message of Hope
Dr. Chris George, a prostate cancer specialist at Northwestern Medicine who is not involved with Biden’s case, said that if Biden responds to treatment, he could live for years as the treatment keeps the disease in check.
President Donald Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump were "saddened to hear about" Biden's diagnosis. "We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Kamala Harris said she's keeping the former president and first lady in her prayers. "Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery," Harris wrote on X.
Biden has recently faced questions about his health. In a May appearance on The View, he dismissed claims of cognitive decline during his final year in office, saying, “There is nothing to sustain that.”
A longtime advocate for cancer research, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden relaunched the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative in 2022, aiming to help prevent over four million cancer deaths by 2047.