Former US President Joe Biden has prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, according to a May 19, 2025 announcement from his office.
Biden, 82, received the diagnosis on May 16 after doctors found a prostate nodule during an examination for urinary symptoms.
His office stated the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management despite being an aggressive form.
Biden’s cancer received a Gleason score of 9 out of 10 (Grade Group 5). The American Cancer Society classifies Grade 5 prostate cancer as looking “very abnormal.”
NYU Langone urologist Dr. Herbert Lepor described a score of 9 as “very high risk.” He noted many men with metastatic prostate cancer can live “five to 10 years and beyond.”
Dr. Chris George from Northwestern Health Network stated prostate cancer that spreads to bones is no longer curable. Treatment options like hormone therapy can shrink tumors and slow growth but cannot cure the disease.
Biden and his family are currently considering treatment options with his medical team.
Cancers that have spread are classified as Stage 4. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of the 236,659 prostate cancer cases diagnosed in 2021 were detected before spreading beyond the prostate. About 8 percent involved advanced-stage disease.
Prostate cancer affects one in eight American men during their lifetime. It ranks as the second-leading cause of cancer death in men despite being highly treatable when found early.
President Donald Trump expressed sympathy on Truth Social: “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Vice President Kamala Harris called Biden “a fighter” who would face this challenge “with the same strength, resilience and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership.”
Former President Barack Obama said: “Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe. I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace.”
Biden has faced several health issues throughout his life. He underwent surgery for brain aneurysms in 1988. Doctors removed a basal cell carcinoma from his chest in 2023.
His son Beau died from brain cancer in 2015 at age 46, which prompted Biden’s involvement in cancer research initiatives.
Biden revived the Cancer Moonshot program in 2022, aiming to cut cancer death rates by at least 50 percent over 25 years.
A recent Senate report showed cancer research funding decreased by 31 percent in early 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 under the Trump administration.
Biden ended his reelection campaign in July 2024 following concerns about his cognitive abilities after a debate with Trump. Since leaving office in January 2025 as the oldest US president in history, he has made few public appearances.
