Former President Joe Biden, aged 82, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones. Here are five key facts about his condition:
Diagnosis and Symptoms Biden’s prostate cancer was detected following a routine physical exam prompted by increasing urinary symptoms. A small nodule was found on his prostate, leading to further evaluation and a subsequent diagnosis on May 16, 2025.
Gleason Score and Aggressiveness The cancer has a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), indicating a high-grade, aggressive form of prostate cancer. This score suggests that the cancer cells are likely to spread quickly.
Bone Metastasis The cancer has spread to Biden’s bones, classifying it as metastatic. While this makes the disease incurable, it remains treatable with appropriate medical interventions.
Hormone-Sensitive Nature Despite its aggressiveness, the cancer is hormone-sensitive, meaning it may respond well to treatments that block or reduce the body’s production of testosterone, a hormone that can fuel prostate cancer growth.
Treatment and Prognosis Biden and his medical team are exploring treatment options, likely including hormone therapy to manage the disease. While metastatic prostate cancer is a lifelong condition, many patients can live for several years with proper treatment.
This diagnosis follows Biden’s previous experience with basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, which was removed from his chest during a routine health screening in February 2023.
