Former US President Joe Biden Diagnosed With Aggressive Prostate Cancer
- President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, his personal office announced on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
- The diagnosis followed a medical evaluation for a prostate nodule after Biden experienced increasing urinary symptoms.
- Hunter Biden told reporters from tv5monde and CNews that the cancer has worsened and spread to the bones and beyond.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, his personal office announced on Sunday, May 18, 2025. The 82-year-old is currently at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, reviewing treatment options with his physicians, according to CNN.
A Grade Group 5 Diagnosis
The diagnosis followed a medical evaluation for a prostate nodule after Biden experienced increasing urinary symptoms. His office reported the cancer carries a Gleason score of 9, classified as Grade Group 5. While described as aggressive, the office noted the disease appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for more effective management.
The reality of the condition is stark. Hunter Biden told reporters from tv5monde and CNews that the cancer has worsened and spread to the bones and beyond. Boursier.com reported that the former president’s son described the condition as very painful.
Writing on X on Monday, May 19, 2025, Biden addressed the news directly: Cancer touches us all. He added that he and former first lady Jill Biden have learned that we are strongest in the broken places.
Clinical Perspectives on Aggressive Growth
Outside experts provided a clinical baseline for the announcement. Dr. Benjamin Davies, a professor of urologic oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, told CNN via email that a Gleason score of 9 represents the most aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Other specialists noted the prevalence of the disease. Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, a urologist with Orlando Health, told CNN that prostate cancer is common and that most men develop small cancer cells as they age.
A Pattern of Skin Cancer Treatments
This diagnosis arrives as Biden manages separate oncological issues. A spokesperson confirmed to NBC News on Thursday that the former president recently underwent Mohs surgery to remove cancerous cells from his skin, a process of removing tissue layers until no cancer remains. Late last month, Biden was seen leaving a church in Greenville, Delaware, with a visible incision on his head, according to NBC News.
The history of skin cancer in the Biden household is documented. In 2023, Dr. Kevin O’Connor reported the removal of a basal cell carcinoma lesion from Biden’s chest. That same year, Jill Biden had two basal cell carcinoma lesions removed—one from her chest and one above her eye, according to NBC News.
Political Fallout and Claims of Decline
The health disclosures reignite a fierce political debate over Biden’s physical and cognitive state. In February 2024, Dr. O’Connor stated Biden was fit for duty with no new concerns, according to CNN. However, the June 2024 debate with Donald Trump turned Biden’s health into a central point of contention.
A book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson alleges that aides privately discussed Biden’s decline before that debate. The claims include discussions over whether he would need a wheelchair for a second term and an incident where he failed to recognize George Clooney at a fundraiser. Appearing on ABC’s The View earlier this month, Biden dismissed these reports: They are wrong. There is nothing to sustain that.
Trump Questions Administration Transparency
President Donald Trump has seized on the diagnosis to challenge the transparency of the previous administration. According to NBC News, Trump and his allies are questioning if Biden was aware of the cancer while still in office and whether the diagnosis was concealed by his aides or Dr. O’Connor.