Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, his office announced on Sunday. He is currently reviewing treatment options with his medical team.

According to a statement, the 82-year-old Democrat was diagnosed on Friday after experiencing urinary symptoms. A subsequent examination revealed a prostate nodule. “Although this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management,” the statement read. “The President and his family are consulting with his physicians to determine the best course of treatment.”

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has frequently criticized Biden’s mental acuity, expressed sympathy over the diagnosis. “We are saddened by the news. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the entire family, and hope Joe has a fast and successful recovery,” Trump posted on Truth Social, referring to First Lady Jill Biden.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic nominee after Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, shared her support on X (formerly Twitter).

“Joe is a fighter,” she said. “I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”

Understanding the Diagnosis

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight men will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime. While highly treatable in its early stages, prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men.

Biden’s cancer has been assigned a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), indicating a highly aggressive form of the disease. The Gleason score, which measures how abnormal the cancer cells appear under a microscope, ranges from 6 to 10. A score of 9 reflects a serious and fast-growing cancer.

Hormone therapy is a typical treatment for such cases. While it can reduce tumor size and slow cancer progression, it is not considered a cure.

A Life of Triumph and Tragedy

Biden left office in January as the oldest president in U.S. history. Throughout his term, questions about his age and health were frequent, especially from within his own party. To critics, he often responded defiantly: “Watch me.”

In July of last year, Biden ended his reelection campaign after a difficult debate performance against Trump reignited concerns about his cognitive health. Kamala Harris stepped in as the Democratic nominee but ultimately lost to Trump.

Biden, who defeated Trump in the 2020 election, has maintained he could have won again in 2024. However, increasing scrutiny from Democrats and recent revelations — including a leaked audio clip of him struggling to recall details during a conversation — have intensified speculation about his decline.

Biden’s personal life has been marked by profound tragedy. In 1972, his first wife and infant daughter were killed in a car accident. His son Beau Biden, a rising political star, died of brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46 — a loss that deeply resonated with the American public.

Following Beau’s death, then-President Barack Obama launched the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative and appointed then–Vice President Biden to lead the national effort to combat cancer.

“It’s personal for me,” Biden said at the time. “But it’s also personal for nearly every American. We all know someone who has faced cancer or is fighting it now.”

On Sunday, Obama issued a statement praising Biden’s contributions to cancer research. “Nobody has done more to push for breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe,” Obama wrote on X. “I am certain he will confront this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace.”

In contrast, a recent Senate report revealed that under Trump’s administration, federal cancer research funding was cut by 31% during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. News of Biden’s diagnosis has evoked a strong emotional response in the nation’s capital.

“This is heartbreaking,” said Ariale Booker, a Washington, D.C. resident who lost both her mother and grandmother to cancer. “His last years are going to be really hard. It’s just really sad.”