The 46th president of the United States has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to a statement released by representatives for the 82-year-old former leader on Sunday (May 18).
The announcement revealed that Biden underwent medical evaluation last week for urinary symptoms, during which physicians discovered a new “prostate nodule.” Medical professionals have characterized the cancer with a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with “metastasis to the bone.”
Within the Gleason scoring system, there are five distinct grade groups, with Grade Group 1 representing the least aggressive form while Grade Group 5 indicates the most aggressive, based on a scale from two to ten that measures cellular abnormality.
Biden’s nine-point score places him at the severe end of Group 5. However, medical professionals note that his cancer is hormone-sensitive, which means they can effectively “manage” the condition using medications designed to block or reduce hormone levels to inhibit further tumor growth.
Several health experts have expressed surprise regarding the timing of this announcement, questioning why Biden’s prostate cancer wasn’t detected earlier in its progression.
Dr. Howard Forman, a physician and professor of radiology and public health at Yale University, stated on social media: “It is inconceivable that this was not being followed before he left the Presidency. Gleason grade 9 would have had an elevated PSA [prostate specific antigen] level for some time before this diagnosis. And he must have had a PSA test numerous times before.”
The specialist further remarked: “This is odd. I wish him well and hope he has an opportunity for maximizing his quality of life.”
Dr. Steven Quay, a physician-scientist, wrote in The Spectator that metastatic prostate cancer typically doesn’t “appear overnight” but rather “festers” over time.
“Prostate cancer is the easiest cancer to diagnose. The PSA blood test shows the rate of cancer cell growth. Even with the most aggressive form, it is a 5-7 year journey without treatment before it becomes metastatic,” he noted.
However, Dr. Quay acknowledges that in certain “rare but dangerous cases,” prostate cancer can accelerate rapidly and progress faster, “especially in older men.”
According to the American Cancer Society, the disease is frequently identified through routine screening, particularly since early-stage prostate cancers don’t always produce noticeable symptoms.
Potential symptoms may include increased urinary frequency, difficulty urinating, straining or extended urination time, weak flow, and/or blood in urine or semen, according to the NHS. Men can live with prostate cancer for decades without requiring intervention, and these symptoms often don’t manifest until the cancer has already developed and advanced considerably.
This health announcement comes after Biden’s physical condition was a persistent concern for voters throughout his presidency and during his campaign for a second term.
His televised performance during a 90-minute debate against Republican challenger Donald Trump intensified these concerns, prompting then-White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to issue a statement denying that Biden was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Biden has previously been forthcoming about other health challenges, including the removal of a benign but potentially pre-cancerous polyp from his colon in November 2021, and the excision of a “basal cell carcinoma,” a common type of skin cancer, from his chest in February 2023.
Although he initially campaigned for reelection, with just three months remaining in the race, Biden withdrew and endorsed former vice-president Kamala Harris, who ultimately lost to Trump.
During his time in office, Biden prioritized reducing cancer mortality rates following the tragic loss of his eldest son, Beau, who died at age 46 from an aggressive brain tumor in 2015.