Former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, according to a statement released Sunday by his personal office.
The statement describes the cancer as “a more aggressive form of the disease” that has spread to the bone, though it notes that the condition can be effectively managed but also that the Biden family is “weighing treatment options.”
The diagnosis comes amid growing scrutiny over Biden’s physical and mental decline—and allegations of a cover-up—just days before the release of “Original Sin,” a book by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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,” the statement adds.
?BREAKING? Joe Biden diagnosed with “aggressive form” of prostate cancer pic.twitter.com/DozYYMLh6t
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 18, 2025
A Gleason score of nine signifies high-grade prostate cancer, indicating a greater likelihood of aggressive growth and spread, according to Mount Sinai. In contrast, a lower score suggests slower-growing cancer with less risk of spreading.
Since leaving office in January, Biden has made one major public speech and given interviews to The View and the BBC. During his May 8 appearance on The View, he dismissed reports that he experienced cognitive decline while in office.
Agreed 100% pic.twitter.com/ry4aifQtVx
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 18, 2025
Following the death of his son Beau from brain cancer in 2015, Biden chose not to run for president in 2016 but later launched a successful campaign in 2020. Excerpts from Original Sin and other accounts of his presidency suggest that Biden experienced ongoing physical and mental decline throughout his term, with the extent of that deterioration becoming undeniable after the June 2024 debate against President Donald Trump.
