Joe Biden Diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer Amid Ongoing Concerns Over Health and Age
- Victor Nwoko
- May 19
- 3 min read
Nearly a year after stepping down from the 2024 U.S. presidential election, former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive and advanced form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones. The 82-year-old’s office confirmed the devastating news, prompting an outpouring of concern from officials and medical experts.
Biden, who had been the Democratic nominee seeking re-election, withdrew from the race following widespread concern over his health and cognitive ability, which was amplified by his lackluster performance in a June debate against then-Republican nominee and current President Donald Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris ultimately replaced Biden as the Democratic candidate.
Trump, 78, later made history as the oldest person to assume the presidency.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States, surpassed only by skin cancer. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 13 out of every 100 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, with age being the leading risk factor.
Biden’s diagnosis, which included a Gleason score of 9 and a Grade Group of 5, indicates a highly aggressive cancer. Medical experts have raised serious concerns about how such an advanced form of the disease went undetected for so long, especially given the ease of early detection through prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and the former president's extensive access to healthcare.
Dr. William Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society and a prostate cancer specialist, confirmed the gravity of the diagnosis. “In general, if cancer has spread to the bones, we don’t consider it curable,” he said, though he emphasized that many patients respond positively to initial treatment and can live for years post-diagnosis.
Biden is expected to undergo hormone therapy to reduce testosterone, a hormone that fuels the growth of prostate cancer cells. Treatment options may include medications like Lupron, which halts testosterone production, and Casodex, which blocks its effects. However, these therapies can lead to fatigue and other side effects. If resistance develops, secondary treatments like chemotherapy or targeted radiopharmaceuticals may be necessary.
Biden has remained largely out of the public eye since leaving office, making only a few appearances. In May, he granted his first post-presidency interview, where he acknowledged that stepping aside from the race was a difficult decision. Around the same time, he appeared on a talk show and firmly denied allegations of cognitive decline, asserting, “There is nothing to sustain that.”
The former president has long been a vocal advocate for cancer research. In 2022, he and First Lady Jill Biden relaunched the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, aiming to reduce cancer deaths by over four million by 2047. Biden’s commitment to the cause is deeply personal—his eldest son, Beau Biden, died from brain cancer in 2015.
As the news of his diagnosis circulates, medical professionals, political allies, and even former rivals continue to weigh in on Biden’s health and legacy, with many expressing hope for a successful treatment and admiration for his decades of public service.
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