By Joseph Ax and Nandita Bose
() -Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office said in a statement on Sunday.
At 82 years old, Biden received a diagnosis on Friday due to urinary issues. He and his family are currently evaluating various treatment choices alongside medical professionals, as stated in their announcement.
"This indicates a more intense version of the illness; however, the cancer shows sensitivity to hormones, enabling better control strategies," his office stated.
Cancers that have spread, or metastasized, are classified as Stage 4, which is the most progressed phase. Many cases of prostate cancer are identified at a less advanced stage.
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, out of the 236,659 instances of prostate cancer identified in 2021, 70% were detected when the cancer was still confined within the prostate gland. Approximately 8% of newly diagnosed cases that same year pertained to advanced stages of the disease.
Biden's physical health and mental acuity drew scrutiny during his 2021-2025 presidency. He abruptly ended his bid for reelection last July, weeks after a halting performance during a debate against Republican Donald Trump prompted panic among his fellow Democrats.
President Trump, who has consistently criticized Biden since assuming office in January, showed empathy on Sunday for both Biden and his wife, Jill, in a message posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Malia and I were deeply moved upon learning of Joe Biden's recent health update," he stated, alluding to former First Lady Melania Trump. "Our thoughts go out with warmth and support to both Jill and the entire family, and we sincerely hope for Joe’s swift and complete recuperation.
Biden's office stated that the cancer received a nine out of ten on the Gleason score grading system, utilized to assess the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.
Dr. Herbert Lepor, a urologist at NYU Langone, stated that a score of nine indicates "a very high risk." However, he also mentioned that numerous men can survive for "five to ten years and more" even when dealing with metastatic prostate cancer.
He mentioned that over the past ten years, significant progress has been made in treating advanced prostate cancer.
Dr. Chris George, who serves as the medical director of the cancer program at the Northwestern Health Network, stated that prostate cancer becomes incurable when it reaches the bones; however, he also noted that various treatment options can manage the condition effectively.
BIDEN, TRUMP LARGEST AGE AT PRESIDENTIAL VICTORY seçen صند
Biden was the oldest individual to secure the U.S. presidency when he won the election in 2020 at the age of 77. However, this record was surpassed by Trump, who was 78 years old at the time he ousted Vice President Kamala Harris in the previous year.
Several leading Democrats have recently admitted that pushing Biden as the 2024 presidential candidate was a mistake, considering the significant worries from voters regarding his advanced age. Even prior to the debates held during the previous summer, Ipsos poll data indicated that a majority of Americans, both Democrats included, felt Biden was too elderly to be elected for another term.
“It was an error for the Democrats to ignore the voters’ concerns sooner,” Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Murphy stated during an interview with NBC News' “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning, prior to Biden’s diagnosis being made public.
Biden has kept a low profile since leaving office, making only a handful of public appearances, including an April speech in which he defended the Social Security Administration against Trump's planned cuts.
In interviews, he has also stood up for his legacy and dismissed claims in two recently released books suggesting that he experienced cognitive decline during his final year as president.
He stated previously this month on ABC's 'The View,' 'They have it incorrect,' pointing towards the authors of the books.
Biden's health update led to an influx of supportive remarks on Sunday from both Democrats and Republicans.
"Joe is a warrior — and I am confident he will confront this challenge with the same fortitude, toughness, and positivity that have consistently characterized his existence and guidance," Harris stated in an official release.
In 2015, Joe Biden suffered the loss of his son, Beau Biden, who passed away from brain cancer.
In 2022, Biden reinstated the Obama-era initiative called the Cancer Moonshot with the aim of cutting the mortality rate from cancer by half within the next quarter-century.
(Reported by Nandita Bose, Joseph Ax, Steve Holland, Kristina Cooke, Costas Pitas, and Nancy Lapid; Edited by Paul Simao, Colleen Jenkins, Rod Nickel, Diane Craft, and Lincoln Feast.)
