Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office revealed Sunday. The 82-year-old’s cancer received a Gleason score of 9, meaning the cancer cells look very different from healthy cells and are likely to grow quickly. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.
The news triggered an outpouring of support across political lines. Former President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump said they were “saddened” by the news and wished Biden “a fast and successful recovery.” Former Vice President Kamala Harris called Biden “a fighter,” while former President Barack Obama said Biden would face this challenge “with his trademark resolve and grace.”
For Biden, cancer has shaped both his personal and public life. His son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, which led Biden to launch the Cancer Moonshot program. This $1.8 billion federal initiative aims to speed up cancer research and find better treatments. Now, Biden faces his own cancer battle.
Doctors found Biden’s cancer after discovering a small nodule in his prostate which required further evaluation. When they tested it further, they found the cancer had already spread to his bones. While this makes it harder to treat, new medicines have made it possible to live longer with this type of cancer. Biden’s family is now reviewing treatment options with his physicians.
The main treatment for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer focuses on hormone therapy. This works by lowering the levels of male hormones or blocking their action. Think of it like cutting off the cancer’s food supply. Treatment options can include various approaches, and doctors determine the best combination based on each patient’s specific case.
Medical science has made big steps forward in treating prostate cancer. New drugs target cancer cells more precisely, and doctors have better tools to keep the disease in check. Some new treatments, still being tested, can even hunt down cancer cells directly.
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Prostate cancer affects many American families. The CDC says about 13 in every 100 men will get it during their lifetime. It’s the second most common cancer in men after skin cancer. Age plays a big role – the older a man gets, the higher his chances of developing it.
The disease often stays quiet in its early stages, showing no signs. Later on, men might notice they need to urinate more often, feel pain while urinating, see blood in their urine, or feel pain in their back. New draft guidelines, currently under public review, suggest men should start getting tested at age 40, earlier than the previous recommendation of 50.
Biden’s diagnosis puts a spotlight on how common prostate cancer is and why early testing matters. When caught early, prostate cancer has one of the best survival rates of any cancer. His case also shows that even with advanced cancer, new treatments offer ways to manage the disease.
The former president served as the oldest U.S. president in history, and his office stressed that while his diagnosis is serious, having a hormone-sensitive cancer means doctors have several ways to manage it. As Biden starts this new health challenge, his previous work pushing for better cancer treatments through the Cancer Moonshot program takes on new personal meaning.
