(WDNews) — Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to a statement released by his office on Sunday.
Biden underwent medical evaluation last week after experiencing urinary symptoms. During the examination, doctors discovered a prostate nodule, prompting further investigation. On Friday, he was officially diagnosed with prostate cancer, and it was confirmed that the disease has metastasized to the bone.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” Biden’s office stated. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
Prostate cancer aggressiveness is typically assessed using the Gleason scoring system, which ranges from 1 to 10. Biden’s score was reported to be 9, indicating one of the most severe and fast-growing types of the disease.
Once prostate cancer spreads beyond the prostate—most commonly to the bones—it becomes significantly more difficult to treat. Metastatic cancers often resist conventional therapies, as medications may not reach all tumor sites effectively.
Nevertheless, there is some hope in Biden’s case. “When prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden’s case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones,” his office noted.
Biden and his medical team are now exploring hormone-based treatment strategies in response to the diagnosis.
