Former United States President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive and advanced form of prostate cancer that has metastasised to his bones, according to an official announcement from his office on Sunday. The 82-year-old was diagnosed after reporting urinary symptoms, which led doctors to discover a prostate nodule.
In a statement released by spokesperson Kelly Scully, it was confirmed that the cancer had spread to the bones, a condition that occurs in approximately 60% of patients with advanced prostate cancer, according to Zero Prostate Cancer, cited by media reports. The disease has been classified as hormone-sensitive, which allows for the possibility of effective treatment.
&ldquo;While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management. The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians,&rdquo; the statement read.
Biden&rsquo;s cancer was given a Gleason score of 9, placing it in Grade Group 5 &mdash; the most severe category. According to the American Cancer Society, a Gleason score of 9 indicates the cancer cells are highly abnormal, with the scoring system peaking at 10. Grade Group 5 is assigned to the most aggressive and abnormal forms of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States, with one in eight men receiving a diagnosis during their lifetime. While highly treatable when detected early, it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men, according to the American Cancer Society.
The diagnosis comes after Biden&rsquo;s decision in July 2024 to withdraw from the presidential race, following a poorly received debate performance against Donald Trump, which prompted widespread speculation about his health and mental fitness.&nbsp;
Despite his exit, Biden has maintained that he was capable of securing a second term, though concerns about his condition had been growing within his party. These concerns have intensified ahead of the release of a forthcoming book examining his decision to run, along with the recent publication of a recording in which Biden appeared hesitant and struggled to remember key dates and events.
Biden&rsquo;s family has a personal history with cancer. His son, Beau Biden, died of brain cancer in 2015.
Tall US Leaders React
The announcement prompted reactions from political figures across the spectrum. President Donald Trump, a longtime critic of Biden&rsquo;s cognitive abilities, expressed sympathy in a post on Truth Social: &ldquo;We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.&rdquo;
Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee in the 2024 election cycle following his withdrawal, wrote on X, &ldquo;Joe is a fighter. 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.&rdquo;
Former President Barack Obama also responded to the news on X, stating, &ldquo;Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family. Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.&rdquo;
An earlier comment made by Biden in 2022 resurfaced following the announcement.&nbsp;
While speaking at a former coal-fired power plant in Massachusetts, he had said, &ldquo;And guess what? The first frost, you knew what was happening. You had to put on your windshield wipers to get, literally, the oil slick off the window. That's why I and so damn many other people I grew up [with] have cancer and why can &mdash; for the longest time, Delaware had the highest cancer rate in the nation.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The statement raised concern at the time, prompting the White House to clarify that Biden was referring to non-melanoma skin cancers that were removed before his presidency.
In the aftermath of the diagnosis, Trump ally Laura Loomer made a series of controversial claims on social media. On Monday, she stated that Biden &ldquo;could very well die in the next 2 months.&rdquo; In her posts on X, she claimed, &ldquo;Joe Biden has had cancer for a while,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;he became terminal last July, which is when Kamala Harris took over.&rdquo;&nbsp;
She went on to claim, &ldquo;Biden has been terminally ill since July 2024.&rdquo;
Loomer continued, &ldquo;A lot of people owe me an apology. I told you all Biden was terminally ill last July. Terminal is 6 months to a year...Won&rsquo;t be long.&rdquo; She had previously made similar claims in June 2024, when she wrote, &ldquo;I was right about the medical emergency...And I am going to be proven right when he dies too. Biden is terminally ill.&rdquo;
She further accused the White House of concealing the extent of Biden&rsquo;s condition, stating, &ldquo;White House physicians have long been suspected of fabricating his medical records.&rdquo;&nbsp;
She claimed, &ldquo;As I reported last year, White House physicians had many late night visits with Biden that went past midnight. Check the logs, you&rsquo;ll see for yourself.&rdquo;
In another post, she added, &ldquo;Everyone is saying they hope Biden recovers. He&rsquo;s not going to recover...We need to accept reality and start investigations. This is the biggest scandal to ever come out of the White House.&rdquo;
Loomer also shared video footage on X that she claimed showed Biden acknowledging he had cancer in July 2022, as well as a separate clip in which she alleged Biden&rsquo;s brother, Frank, revealed that the former president was terminally ill.
Joe Biden served as the 46th President of the United States from 2021 to 2025, defeating Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
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Biden battles advanced prostate cancer; Laura Loomer alleges cover-up, urges investigation into White House.

Joe Biden Diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer

Biden battles advanced prostate cancer; Laura Loomer alleges cover-up, urges investigation into White House.

May 19, 2025 | 16:56 IST