Cliff Notes – Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive form of prostate cancer

Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer characterised by a Gleason score of 9, indicating an aggressive form that has metastasised to the bone.
Medical assessments suggest the cancer appears hormone-sensitive, allowing for potential targeted treatment options as Biden and his family consider their options.
Public figures, including President Trump and Vice President Harris, have expressed their support, wishing Biden a speedy recovery during this challenging time.

Former US president Joe Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer

Former US president Joe Biden has prostate cancer, his office has said.

Mr Biden, 82, who left the White House in January, was seen by doctors last week for urinary symptoms.

He was later diagnosed with prostate cancer, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.

His office said in a statement: “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.

“On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis 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.

“The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

According to Cancer Research UK, a Gleason score of 9 means the cancerous cells “look very abnormal” and the disease is “likely to grow quickly”.

Dr Imran Ahmad, professor of urological oncology at the University of Glasgow, told Sky News on Sunday evening that prostate cancer is “very common” for men in their 80s.

“If you biopsy 10 men of Joe Biden’s age, eight would have prostate cancer,” he said. “But I would argue that maybe seven of those men would have low-risk prostate cancer that we could just watch, and that they would die of.

“Whereas Joe Biden’s is obviously a very aggressive form that – if he is otherwise fit – will be what he dies of.”

Biden’s cancer one of the most aggressive forms – but there is some hope

Joe Biden’s prostate cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.

Prostate cancers are rated with a Gleason score. This measures on a scale of one to 10 how the cancerous cells look compared with normal cells. His score is nine.

It has been given a Grade Group of 5 – the highest. That means the cancer has poor differentiation from normal cells and will grow rapidly. It has already spread to his bones.

Metastasised cancer is harder to treat than cancer that stays in one place because it’s spread around the body, making it harder for drugs to reach and destroy all the tumours.

But there is some hope from Biden’s medical team. They say his cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive.

When prostate cancers need hormones to grow, targeted therapy can deprive these tumours of these hormones, making treatment more effective.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. In the UK, it accounts for around a quarter of all male cancer cases.

In the US, it’s also one of the most common, second only to skin cancer. It mostly affects men over the age of 50 and becomes more common with age.

A source familiar with Mr Biden and his family’s thinking told NBC News that the former president is considering “multiple treatment options” – including hormone treatment for the cancer.

They added he is at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, and that as of now, it is unclear where the former president will be treated.

Mr Biden was the oldest person to ever serve as president, with concerns about his health raised regularly during his campaign for re-election last year.

After a poor debate against Donald Trump in June, he withdrew from the 2024 election and endorsed his vice president Kamala Harris.

In February 2023, he had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer.

President Trump posted on Truth Social that he was “saddened” by the news, adding: “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”

Ms Harris wrote on X: “We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time.

“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.”