Former President Biden Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer: "Metastasized to Bones"

Cancer Diagnosed Last Week After Nodule Discovery
Aggressiveness Rated 9 out of 10 on Malignancy Scale

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, just four months after leaving the White House.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden. Photo by AP Yonhap News

On May 18 (local time), U.S. media outlets including the New York Times (NYT) and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing a statement from Biden's personal spokesperson, that the former president has been diagnosed with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer.

In the statement, Biden's spokesperson said, "Last week, former President Biden sought medical attention after experiencing worsening urinary symptoms, which led to the discovery of a new nodule in his prostate." The spokesperson continued, "On May 16, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (grade group 5), and the cancer had already metastasized to his bones." The statement added, "While this indicates a more aggressive form, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, making effective management possible. Former President Biden and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his primary physician."

The malignancy of prostate cancer is usually indicated by the Gleason score. A score of 2 to 6 is classified as a "low-risk group" with a favorable prognosis, while a Gleason score of 7 to 10 combined with a blood prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 20 or higher is classified as a "high-risk group" with a poor prognosis. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, with 13 out of every 100 men being diagnosed with it during their lifetime.

Former President Biden left office in January at the age of 82, making him the oldest U.S. president in history. Last week, his team announced that a "small nodule" had been discovered in his prostate and that "further evaluation" was required.

Questions regarding former President Biden's health followed him throughout his term. After a presidential debate in June last year, controversy over his cognitive abilities intensified, leading Biden to ultimately hand over the Democratic presidential nomination to then-Vice President Kamala Harris and forgo a bid for a second term.

Jake Tapper, a CNN anchor, and Alex Thompson, a reporter for Axios, raised further allegations in their upcoming book "Original Sin," scheduled for publication on May 20. They claim that in mid-June last year, during a fundraising event, former President Biden failed to recognize actor George Clooney?a top star and longtime Democratic supporter whom he had known for 15 years?suggesting significant cognitive issues that his close aides had concealed for a considerable period.