Joe Biden diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones

Former President Joe Biden, 82, was diagnosed with an ‘aggressive form’ of prostate cancer, his office announced on Sunday. 

The cancer has metastasized and spread to his bones, a statement on the diagnosis revealed. 

The announcement came just one week after reports revealed that a ‘small nodule’ was found on Biden’s prostate that needed ‘further evaluation.’ 

A statement on the diagnosis states: ‘Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.’

‘On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,’ it adds of the grave prognosis. *

‘While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.’ 

Joe Biden’s personal office released a statement on Sunday revealing that the former president was diagnosed with an ‘aggressive form’ of prostate cancer on Friday, May 16, 2025

Biden left office as the oldest serving president in U.S. history – he was also elected as the oldest ever person to hold the highest office.  

Last weekend, his office said a ‘small nodule’ was found on his prostate during ‘a routine physical exam.’ 

It’s common for those of the his advanced age to experience prostate issues.

A nodule is a firm lump or swelling that can develop throughout the body. While they can be benign and harmless, some can be associated with bigger health concerns like infections or, in this case, cancer.

Questions over the former president’s age, health and fitness for office ultimately led him to ditch his reelection campaign and let then-Vice President Kamala Harris, 60, take over.

Leaders within the Democratic Party have started to publicly admit that Biden should not have run for reelection in 2024. Some claim that they were duped by advisers who were shielding Biden from the public and telling members of the party he was fit behind the scenes. 

Biden reignited his Cancer Moonshot initiative in 2022 – he was put in charge of the effort at first when he was serving as Barack Obama’s vice president. 

The initiative sought to cut the cancer death rate in half by 2047 and improve the lives of those living with cancer.  

Solving the problem of cancer hit close to home for Biden. 

His son Beau Biden died at the age of 46 in 2025 after he was diagnosed in 2013 with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive type of brain cancer. His father claimed the cancer was a consequence of his Beau’s exposure to military burn pits when he was serving in Iraq.

In February 2023, Biden had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest and before entering office had several non-melanoma skin cancer spots removed with Mohs surgery.

While still president in February 2024, Biden’s doctor declared him ‘fit to serve’ following a routine physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. 

Former first lady Jill Biden and former President Joe Biden appeared for a joint interview on The View on May 8, 2025

‘The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians,’ the statement on his diagnosis notes. Pictured: Joe stands with daughter Ashley, daughter-in-law Melissa Cohen, grandson Beau, son Hunter and wife Jill during the Christmas tree lighting in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on November 29, 2024

Prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) is the most severe grade a patient can receive. And the fact it has metastasized in the former president’s bones adds to the grave diagnosis. 

The statement from Biden’s office claims that the form of cancer he has appears to be hormone sensitive and might be effectively managed by various treatments. 

Doctors and medical professionals note that effective treatment for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer is blocking testosterone production since this hormone can help the cancer to grow and thrive. 

‘The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians,’ it states. 

Earlier this month, Biden began his media reemergence. 

He appeared on The View alongside his wife and former first lady Jill Biden for a joint interview on May 8. 

The former president also joined BBC for a wide-ranging pre-taped interview to mark the anniversary of Victory Day. 

But CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson have an upcoming book focusing solely on the downfall of Biden and the massive cover-up of his cognitive decline during his single term as president. 

‘Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again’ will hit shelves later this week and details the extent of the cover-up.

The forthcoming book details how Biden’s deterioration towards the end of his single term was so severe that some aides started to weight whether he needed to use a wheelchair. 

The authors claim advisers were privately discussing in 2023 and 2024 the possibility that Biden might need to use a wheelchair if he won reelection – and they were weighing how to hide it until after Election Day in November 2024. 

Biden tripped and fell down while on stage delivering a commencement address at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs on June 1, 2023

Internet critics and even some medical professionals weighed-in on Biden’s gait towards the end of his presidency, mentioning his shuffle and his inclination to stumble and even fall completely to the ground. 

During a commencement address at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado on June 1, 2023, Biden tripped and fell down while on stage. A few members of his Secret Service detail rushed to help him back to his feet. 

The conversations about wheelchair use reflect Biden’s extreme health decline and spine issues, and the extent to which his White House team was willing to go to conceal it during a tough reelection.