Washington, D.C., May 19, 2025 — Former U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an aggressive and metastatic form of prostate cancer, according to a statement released by his personal office on Sunday. The cancer, which has spread to his bones, is said to be hormone-sensitive, making it potentially manageable through targeted therapies.
Biden underwent medical evaluation last week following the onset of urinary symptoms, leading to the discovery of a prostate nodule. A Gleason score of 9—indicating one of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer—was reported, raising serious concerns about the former president’s health.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” the official statement read. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
A Wave of Support Across the Political Spectrum
The news prompted an outpouring of bipartisan sympathy and support from national and international leaders.
President Donald Trump, Biden’s political rival and successor, expressed concern in a rare show of personal goodwill. “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” he wrote on Truth Social. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill Biden and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, who succeeded Biden as the Democratic nominee last year, wrote on X: “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.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also conveyed his support, wishing Biden a “swift and successful treatment.”
Former President Barack Obama, with whom Biden shared a close partnership during their administration, offered a heartfelt tribute: “Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family. Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace.”
Other leaders, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Governor Gavin Newsom, also issued public statements of solidarity, praising Biden’s resilience, compassion, and deep faith.
A Lifetime Marked by Service and Personal Tragedy
Biden’s health has long been a subject of public attention, particularly during and after his presidency. Before assuming office in 2021, he underwent treatment for several non-melanoma skin cancers. In 2023, he had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest.
In 2022, Biden launched a renewed “Cancer Moonshot” initiative aimed at halving cancer-related deaths over 25 years—a personal mission that began during his tenure as Vice President, following the death of his son Beau Biden from brain cancer.
Biden’s life has been punctuated by personal loss and adversity. In 1972, shortly after being elected to the Senate, he lost his wife Neilia and infant daughter Naomi in a tragic car accident. More recently, he issued a pardon to his surviving son, Hunter Biden, following federal convictions—a deeply personal and controversial decision that he called a matter of “a father’s unconditional love.”
Political Ramifications and New Scrutiny
The diagnosis comes at a time when Biden is facing renewed scrutiny. A forthcoming book, Original Sin, by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, alleges that the White House sought to downplay concerns over his cognitive health in the months leading up to his withdrawal from the 2024 race.
While Biden initially announced plans to seek re-election, he later endorsed Harris as his successor, citing growing concerns about age and stamina. Harris, however, was defeated by Trump in the November 2024 election.
Despite political controversies, Biden remains respected across the aisle for his decades of public service and steadfast leadership.
When prostate cancer metastasizes to the bones, treatment becomes significantly more complex. However, hormone-sensitive variants, such as Biden’s, may respond well to hormone-deprivation therapies.
Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer among American men and is the second leading cause of cancer death, according to the American Cancer Society. Biden’s public health advocacy, particularly around cancer research, has been a defining element of his legacy.
As the world awaits further updates, well-wishers across political and ideological lines continue to extend messages of hope, healing, and strength to the former president and his family.
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