Former U.S. President Joe Biden in his first speech since leaving the White House, in Chicago, on April 15, 2025. (Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski/Reuters)
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office announced Sunday, noting the 82-year-old Democrat has “bone metastases.”
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-dependent, allowing for effective management,” Biden’s office said in a statement sent to AFP.
Biden left the White House in January after choosing last summer not to seek re-election amid growing concerns about his health. An investigative book set for release Tuesday details what it describes as his physical and cognitive decline throughout his presidency.
He was diagnosed on Friday. According to the statement, his cancer ranks at level 9 on the Gleason score — a scale from 2 to 10 used to evaluate the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.
Reactions and treatment
Current President Donald Trump reacted to the news by expressing sympathy.
“Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” Trump said on Truth Social. “We send our warmest best wishes to Jill and the family and wish Joe a quick and successful recovery.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic nominee after Biden exited the 2024 race, also offered support.
“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,” Harris said on X.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and accounts for 15 percent of all male cancers. The prostate is a gland responsible for producing part of the fluid in semen. While the disease is often treatable when caught early, it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men.
“Early detection is essential,” the American Cancer Society said, noting Biden’s longstanding commitment to cancer research and advocacy.
“The president and his family are evaluating treatment options with his doctors,” his office said.
Biden underwent surgery in 2023 to remove a small lesion from his chest that turned out to be cancerous. During his presidency, he launched a national initiative to “end cancer as we know it,” aiming to reduce cancer mortality by 50 percent over 25 years.
“No one has done more than Joe” in the fight against cancer, former President Barack Obama said in a statement. “I am sure he will face this challenge with the determination and grace that characterize him. We are praying for a swift and complete recovery.”
“I’m thinking of the Bidens, who are once again facing cancer — a disease they’ve worked so hard to spare other families from,” former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posted on X. “Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Biden’s family has already been touched by the disease. His eldest son, Beau, died in 2015 of brain cancer at age 46.
“He’s not a personal friend or anything like that, but it’s sad,” said Ariale Booker, 48, a construction worker in Washington who lost both her mother and grandmother to cancer. “I really saw them get knocked down. His last years — his life — is going to be really hard.”
Book details decline, hidden struggles
Questions about Biden’s physical and mental health have persisted for years. On Saturday, a 2023 audio recording surfaced in which Biden appeared to forget major dates in his life. The upcoming book by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, due out Tuesday, alleges that the White House worked to conceal Biden’s decline while he pursued a second term.
Biden has recently denied experiencing cognitive deterioration during his final months in office. Nonetheless, his health was long a political flashpoint — with Trump repeatedly referring to him as “Sleepy Joe.”