Former President Joe Biden expressed his gratitude to Americans on Monday for their “love and support” following the revelation of his diagnosis of an aggressive form of prostate cancer. In his first public statement regarding the diagnosis, Biden shared on X, “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.” Along with his heartfelt message, Biden posted a photo of himself with former First Lady Jill Biden and their cat, Willow.
Biden’s personal office disclosed on Sunday that he received the cancer diagnosis just two days prior. Reports indicate that the cancer has spread to his bones. A statement from Biden’s office characterized the diagnosis as “a more aggressive form” of cancer but noted that it appears to respond well to hormone therapy, which allows for “effective management.”
The statement further revealed, “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.” This diagnosis hits home for the Biden family, as cancer has been a significant personal issue for them. Biden lost his son, Beau Biden, to brain cancer in 2015, which led him to launch the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative aimed at accelerating research for curing cancer as a tribute to his late son.
The announcement of Biden’s cancer diagnosis comes at a time when the 82-year-old former president and his party are still navigating the aftermath of his decision to run for reelection last year. After a widely criticized debate performance, Biden abandoned his campaign during the summer, leading to Vice President Kamala Harris taking over as the Democratic presidential nominee, who ultimately lost the November election to Donald Trump.
In light of Biden's diagnosis, Trump extended his well wishes for a “fast and successful recovery” via a social media post on Sunday. However, not all responses were purely supportive. Donald Trump Jr. raised questions on X, suggesting whether Biden’s diagnosis announcement was “yet another coverup.” Vice President JD Vance commented on the situation, expressing his best wishes for Biden's health but also stressing the need to evaluate whether Biden is fit to serve as president. “We really do need to be honest about whether the former president was capable of doing the job,” Vance stated.
Kamala Harris also shared her sentiments on X, expressing that she and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were “saddened to learn” about Biden's diagnosis. “Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery,” she added.
Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer affecting men, particularly older men. While it often grows slowly and remains localized to the prostate gland initially, some forms can be aggressive and spread rapidly to other areas of the body, including the bones. The pathology report indicated that Biden’s cancer has a Gleason score of 9, with 10 being the highest possible score. This score reflects the cellular appearance under a microscope, and a higher score indicates a greater malignancy.
William Dahut, the chief scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, explained that once prostate cancer spreads to the bones, it is generally no longer considered curable; however, effective therapies are available for treatment. “He could definitely live many years with this. There’s a wide range of how long people can live with metastatic prostate cancer,” Dahut noted, highlighting that while some cases may be aggressive and lead to a quick decline, others can lead to survival for 15 to 20 years.
As Biden navigates this challenging health journey, the nation watches closely, offering support and empathy while acknowledging the broader implications of his health on political dynamics.
