Joe Biden battles aggressive prostate cancer spread to bones

Former United States President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive and advanced form of prostate cancer that has reportedly spread to his bones, his office confirmed on Sunday. The announcement has sparked concern across political and public circles, given the gravity of the diagnosis and Biden’s age of 82.

According to the official press statement, Biden was diagnosed after experiencing urinary symptoms that prompted further medical evaluation. A prostate nodule was detected, and subsequent tests confirmed a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) — among the highest levels of abnormality on the prostate cancer grading scale. A 9 out of 10 score indicates a very aggressive form of the disease.

Despite the severity, doctors have found that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, meaning it may respond well to hormonal therapy, which can help manage and control the spread. "While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management," the statement said. The Biden family is working closely with medical professionals to finalize a treatment plan.

The news draws further emotional weight considering Biden’s personal history — his eldest son, Beau Biden, died in 2015 from brain cancer, a tragedy that has shaped much of his public and private life.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, with 1 in 8 being diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Although highly treatable when caught early, it remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the United States.