Associated Press
Former President Joe Biden’s office said Sunday that he has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer and is reviewing treatment options with his doctors.
Biden was having increasing urinary symptoms and was seen last week by doctors who found a prostate nodule. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and the cancer cells have spread to the bone, his office said in a statement.
When caught early, prostate cancer is highly survivable, but it is also the second-leading cause of cancer death in men. About one in eight men will be diagnosed over their lifetime with prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
Here are some things to know about prostate cancer that has spread.
What is the prostate gland?
The prostate is part of the reproductive system in men. It makes fluid for semen. It’s located below the bladder and it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out through the penis.
How serious is Biden’s cancer?
Biden’s cancer has spread to the bone, his office said. That makes it more serious than localized or early-stage prostate cancer.
Outcomes have improved in recent decades and patients can expect to live with metastatic prostate cancer for four or five years, said Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center.
“It’s very treatable, but not curable,” Smith said.
What are the treatment options?
Prostate cancer can be treated with drugs that lower levels of hormones in the body or stop them from getting into prostate cancer cells. The drugs can slow down the growth of cancer cells.
“Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy,” Smith said.
What is a Gleason score?
Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using what’s known as a Gleason score. The scores range from 6 to 10, with 8, 9 and 10 prostate cancers behaving more aggressively. Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.
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Republished with permission of The Associated Press
3 comments
Foghorn Leghorn
May 19, 2025 at 8:18 am
I wish President Biden and his family all the best. Have to say it makes me wonder about his medical advisors. They obviously missed the boat on his mental acuity and it makes one wonder if they missed the prostate diagnosis as well.
Earl Pitts American
May 19, 2025 at 8:31 am
Good Morn ‘Ting America,
Thoughts & Prayers for everyone. If this is even true.
Earl ‘Splanes himself.
Facts America:
1.) The Democrats have lied to “We, The American People 99% of the time.
2.) This is an A. P. artical which historically are 99.374% lies.
In Closing:
I, Earl Pitts American, advise you to make up your own mind. However I am thinking the cancer story is all a pack of lies to stop any more investigations into who knew what and when about Joes demimtia and to shut down anyone from thinking Obama ran the White House for Joe.
EPA
Victoria Olson
May 19, 2025 at 10:56 am
I am listing Biden’s major accomplishments since you all have short memories.
y Accomplishments:
During his presidency, President Biden:
Ended the longest war in American history.
Supported Ukraine as it bravely defended its freedom and democracy in the face of Russia’s unprovoked, illegal invasion, allowing Kyiv to defy expectations that it would fall in a matter of days.
Rallied more than 50 countries to stand with Ukraine, providing Ukraine with economic and financial support to defend its territory, and imposing costs on Russia through the strongest-ever multilateral sanctions and export controls campaign.
Expanded and strengthened NATO, adding Finland and Sweden as member states, shored up deterrence across Europe, and ensured that the majority of NATO countries are paying their fair share towards the common defense.
Strengthened our competitive position and responsibly managed competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Rallied the G7 to counteract China’s persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies and practices.
Leveled the playing field for American workers and businesses by standing up to the PRC’s unfair economic practices through targeted tariffs on imports in strategic sectors, such as steel, aluminum, and semiconductors.
Reinvigorated America’s network of alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, including through the U.S.-Japan-ROK and U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilaterals, the Quad, AUKUS, IPEF, expanded partnership with the Philippines, and elevated relations with India, Indonesia, Vietnam, ASEAN, and Pacific Islands countries.
Created a new strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa that recognizes the continent’s critical role in advancing our global priorities in the 21st century and followed up on that strategy with commitments at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.
Significantly enhanced the value proposition of U.S. partnership to emerging market and developing countries through investment, economic partnership, and reform of multilateral development banks.
Brought home more than 75 unjustly detained Americans from prisons abroad, including Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and David Lin.
Led a coalition of countries in defending Israel after Hamas launched its terrorist attack on October 7, and when Iran launched hundreds of missiles with the support of its proxies.
Removed terrorist leaders from the battlefield, including al Qaeda emir al-Zawahiri, Hurras al-Din emir al-Makki, ISIS emir al-Qurayshi and his deputy, and a key ISIS operative and facilitator, al-Sudani.
Fundamentally revised the U.S. approach to technology and national security, putting together a toolkit to ensure that sensitive technologies do not end up in the hands of those who would use it against America and its allies and partners.
Established global AI leadership, guiding global efforts to ensure AI norms reflect our interests and values, while ensuring the United States remains at the cutting edge of AI technology.
Imposed export controls to restrict the highest-performing AI chips and other sensitive technologies from falling into the hands of those who could use them against the United States.
Secured nearly $450 billion in private manufacturing investments catalyzed by the CHIPS and Science Act to boost domestic supply chains and ensure the technologies of the future are made in America.
Produced 4-nanometer leading-edge logic semiconductors on American soil for the first time ever, also marking the first time that leading-edge chips have been domestically produced in over a decade.
Updated and restructured the U.S. government’s approach to protecting U.S. critical infrastructure from increasingly grave threats from adversaries and natural hazards.
Forged a new partnership of 70 nations and international organizations to combat and prevent ransomware attacks through the International Counter Ransomware Initiative.
Ended the COVID-19 pandemic at home, and donated nearly 700 million COVID-19 vaccines to other countries.
Partnered with more than 60 countries to help prevent and prepare for future health emergencies.
Advanced rights and opportunities for women and girls, launching partnerships to help close the gender digital divide, build childcare infrastructure, increase access to jobs, and address gender-based violence globally.