Former US President Joe Biden with wife, Jill, May 19, 2025. /JOE BIDEN/XFormer US President Joe Biden has spoken for the first time after news broke Sunday of his diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Biden was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in its advanced stage that has spread to his bones.
Medical evaluations prompted by urinary symptoms led to the discovery of a prostate nodule, with subsequent tests confirming a Gleason score of 9, indicating a high-grade tumour.
On Monday, Biden made his first public reaction to the diagnosis on X, expressing gratitude for public support and reaffirming his commitment to confronting the illness with strength.
"Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support," he said.
Despite its severity, metastatic prostate cancer is hormone-sensitive, meaning it offers potential for effective treatment options such as hormone therapy, radiation, or chemotherapy.
In February 2023, while serving as president, Biden had a cancerous skin lesion (basal cell carcinoma) removed from his chest during a routine health screening.
Basal cell carcinoma is a common and typically non-metastasising form of skin cancer.
The procedure was successful, requiring no further treatment, and the area healed well.
However, surgical intervention for metastatic prostate cancer is considered unlikely due to Biden's age (82) and the extent of the cancer's progression.
The diagnosis comes shortly after Biden's departure from office, during which he had faced scrutiny over his health and cognitive abilities.
The severity of his condition was manifested during the June 27 Presidential debate against Republican presidential Candidate Donald Trump, in which his performance was widely criticised and concerns were raised about his candidacy, including by Democrats themselves.
Biden appeared hoarse and fatigued, and his delivery lacked energy and clarity, failing to effectively counter Trump's assertions.
His responses were disjointed and laced with missteps, one where he concluded a statement on the national debt with "We finally beat Medicare."
During a separate event earlier that day, Biden had mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin".
The instances, among others, intensified concerns within the Democratic Party about Biden's fitness for office.
He ultimately chose not to seek re-election in the 2024 elections and instead endorsed his then-deputy, Kamala Harris, as the Democratic nominee.
