By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Joe Biden, the former President of the United States, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. The news was shared by his office in a statement released on Sunday.
According to the statement, Biden sought medical attention last week after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. Subsequent tests revealed a prostate nodule, and a diagnosis of prostate cancer was confirmed on Friday. The cancer has been classified as a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), which indicates a particularly aggressive form of the disease. Additionally, doctors have confirmed that the cancer has spread to his bones.
Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, the statement noted that the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which may allow for effective treatment options. Biden and his family are currently in consultation with his medical team to evaluate potential treatments.
This diagnosis comes almost ten months after Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race. His decision followed intense scrutiny over his health and age, particularly after a widely criticized debate performance against former President Donald Trump in June 2024, in which Biden appeared physically weak and struggled with his responses. The debate led to calls for Biden to step aside from the race.
On July 21, 2024, Biden formally ended his bid for re-election, endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Harris, however, lost the election to Donald Trump, who was inaugurated for a second term on January 20, 2025.
Now 82 years old, Biden completed his term in office before stepping back from public life. Although he has made few public appearances since then, he remains an important figure within the Democratic Party.
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