PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
👥 Who’s Involved: Joe Biden, his family, and his physicians.
📍 Where & When: Announced via a statement from Biden’s office on Sunday.
💬 Key Quote: “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
⚠️ Impact: The diagnosis reveals a serious health condition for the former president, aged 82, with potential implications for his future activities.
IN FULL:
President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive type of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, according to a statement from his office released on Sunday.
The statement detailed that Biden’s cancer is characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), indicating a highly aggressive form of the disease. However, it noted the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, allowing for more effective management.
“The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians,” the statement added.
The diagnosis followed evaluations after a small nodule was discovered in Biden’s prostate, which led to further medical examinations last week. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, second only to skin cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 13 out of every 100 men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime, with age being the most significant risk factor. Biden, now 82, is the oldest person to have served as president in U.S. history.
The Gleason score, a grading system used by pathologists to assess prostate cancer, ranges from 2 to 10. Biden’s score of 9 signifies that the cancer cells appear highly abnormal and undifferentiated compared to healthy cells.
This is not Biden’s first battle with cancer. In 2021, he underwent treatment for a small skin lesion that was removed from his chest. Additionally, his son Beau Biden passed away from brain cancer in 2015, which Biden has linked to exposure to burn pits during his son’s military service.