Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office announced last Sunday, after a cancerous growth was discovered during his routine checkup, according to The New York Times.
Concern for the former president’s health had been on the rise before this incident. This concern influenced the decision to stop Biden’s re-election campaign in 2024.
The diagnosis was made after Biden reported urinary symptoms to his doctors, which led them to subsequently find a nodule on his prostate and cancer cells that had begun to spread to his bones. Although these conditions may seem distressing for the former president, experts report that Biden can still expect to live another 5 years according to the American Cancer Society.
Next to skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men in the US. The chances of contracting the cancer go up with age. The cancer Biden contracted is “the worst version you can get,” Dr. Ben Davies said in an interview with NPR.
But this does not mean that Biden is out of options. Treatment options, according to NPR, include hormonal treatments that can be used to slow the growth of the cancer, and, if the condition worsens, chemotherapy and radiation therapy; however, these options require discussion between Biden and his doctor to determine if the former president can handle the intensity of these treatments.
“It’s not all doom and gloom, to be honest,” Davies said. “He can easily live 10 years with this disease.”
Fellow politicians have reached out to express their condolences, including President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
“Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” President Trump wrote on social media. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Former vice president Kamala Harris also reached out through social media to show her support.
“Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership,” Harris wrote. “We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”
Biden and his family are no strangers to dealing with health issues. In 2024, the White House disclosed Biden’s issues with sleep apnea, only a month before his withdrawal from the presidential race was announced. In 1988, Biden suffered multiple brain aneurysms, which required surgery during that same year, according to CBS News.
Ultimately, the cancerous growth will require treatment in order to prolong the life of the former president. However, thanks to advances in cancer treatment in recent years, there are many resources available to Biden in his journey to treat the disease.
