Former U.S. President Joe Biden has publicly addressed his recent cancer diagnosis, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support and vowing to confront the illness with resilience. The 82-year-old leader revealed he has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, an aggressive and advanced form of the disease that has spread to his bones.
Biden’s diagnosis followed medical evaluations prompted by urinary symptoms. Doctors discovered a prostate nodule, and further testing confirmed a Gleason score of 9, indicating a high-grade, fast-growing tumour. Despite its seriousness, the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which opens avenues for treatments such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or radiation.
On Monday, Biden shared his first public reaction to the diagnosis via his official X account, formerly Twitter. “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support,” he wrote, accompanied by a photo of him and First Lady Jill Biden.
The diagnosis comes just months after Biden left office, amid ongoing scrutiny over his health and cognitive ability. Questions intensified following a widely criticized performance during the June 27 presidential debate against Republican candidate Donald Trump. Biden appeared visibly hoarse and fatigued, and struggled with clear articulation. One notable gaffe came when he concluded a statement on national debt with the puzzling remark, “We finally beat Medicare.”
His debate showing prompted growing concern among Democrats, some of whom have begun to question whether he should remain the party’s nominee for the 2024 presidential election.
Biden has previously dealt with cancer. In February 2023, while still in office, he had a basal cell carcinoma a non-aggressive form of skin cancer removed successfully during a routine health screening.
Surgical intervention for Biden’s current condition is unlikely, given his age and the cancer’s spread. However, with treatment options available and support pouring in from across the political spectrum, the former president appears determined to battle the disease head-on offering a message of resilience to millions affected by cancer globally.
