Former US President Joe Biden is currently receiving radiation therapy as part of his treatment for prostate cancer, according to his spokesperson. The 82-year-old is also undergoing hormone therapy, marking a new phase in his ongoing medical care.
Sources close to the former president told NBC News that the radiation treatment will last for five weeks, following the discovery of an aggressive form of prostate cancer earlier this year. In May, Biden’s office confirmed that doctors had identified a small nodule on his prostate after he reported urinary symptoms. Further tests revealed that the cancer had spread to his bones.
At the time, his office explained that Biden’s cancer was characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) one of the highest ratings for aggressiveness in prostate cancer. While the diagnosis indicated a severe stage of the disease, doctors noted that it remains hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management through combined therapy.
The American Cancer Society lists prostate cancer as the second most common cancer in men, after skin cancer, with 13 out of every 100 men expected to develop it in their lifetime. Age is considered the primary risk factor.
Biden’s health has been under public scrutiny, particularly since he left office in January as the oldest serving US president. His health challenges influenced his decision to withdraw from the 2024 re-election race, paving the way for his former vice president, Kamala Harris, who later lost to President Donald Trump.
Despite his diagnosis, Biden remains 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 four million by 2047. Biden’s personal battle against cancer is deeply tied to the loss of his son, Beau Biden, who died from brain cancer in 2015.
As he continues treatment, Biden has largely stepped back from the public eye, focusing on his recovery and his enduring mission to fight cancer.
