Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with a form of severe prostate cancer that has metastasized in his bones, according to a statement from his office issued Sunday.
“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,” the statement said.
A prostate nodule was found and further examined which led to the diagnosis according to the statement.
“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 said.
Newsweek has not reviewed any medical documents for Biden or spoken with his treating physician.
Why It Matters
In 2023, Biden had a skin lesion removed that was found to be a basal cell carcinoma—a type of skin cancer.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the White House physician at the time, said in a statement: “As expected, the biopsy confirmed that the small lesion was basal cell carcinoma. All cancerous tissue was successfully removed…No further treatment is required.”
He added: “Basal cell carcinoma lesions do not tend to ‘spread’ or metastasize, as some more serious skin cancers such as melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma are known to do. They do, however, have the potential to increase in size, resulting in a more significant issue as well as increased challenges for surgical removal.”
Speculation regarding Biden’s health circulated widely last year before he dropped out of the presidential election race and was replaced by then-Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate.
In February 2024, Biden’s doctor declared him “fit to serve” after he underwent a physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
What To Know
In a statement from Biden’s office, it was revealed that he had 9 on the Gleason score, which runs from one to 10.
The Gleason score is determined by looking at biopsied tissue under a microscope and indicates the severity of the case, with six or higher indicating cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Prostate cancer occurs when cells begin to grow out of control, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cells can look like healthy cells early on in the disease progression before developing into more obvious cancerous cells, the Cleveland Clinic says. This is common on a Gleason score of one. Once it progresses, the cancer cells will look like cancer cells under a microscope.
On a Gleason score of 8, 9 or 10, “The cells look very different from healthy cells, which is called poorly differentiated or undifferentiated,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The score is a grading system used to help determine plans of treatment for patients. A high score can mean it is more likely to spread or metastasize, the clinic said.
It is not the only way of measuring the disease’s progression, however. Blood levels, imaging test and other diagnostics should and can be done, according to the clinic.
The prostate is located in the male reproductive system behind the bladder and above the rectum. Symptoms can include pain, difficulty and frequency urinating, as well as pain in the back, hip and pelvis that doesn’t go away, the CDC said.
According to data gathered by the CDC, 33,363 men died from prostate cancer in 2022.
While there was a 97 percent survival rate for most patients, rates for patients who had their cancer spread dropped significantly to 36.2 percent, the data from the CDC shows.
Anyone experiencing any of these systems should seek medical attention.
What People Are Saying
Statement from the Personal Office of Former President Joe Biden: “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.”
President Donald Trump on Truth Social: “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Houman David Hemmati MD PhD, a medical commentator said on X: “President Biden’s diagnosis of advanced, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9 and bone metastases is a sobering reminder of how aggressive this disease can be when caught late. As a physician and former prostate cancer researcher, I know that while early-stage prostate cancer is often curable, high-grade cases like this require lifelong management.”
He added: “Hormonal therapies can slow progression and improve quality of life—but they are not curative. This is a moment to raise awareness: men over 50 (and earlier for those with risk factors) should talk to their doctor about PSA screening. Early detection saves lives.”
What Happens Next
In the statement from Biden’s office, they said the condition was “hormone-sensitive.”
The Cleveland Clinic says there are a range of treatments for people suffering from aggressive forms of prostate cancer that include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, as well as immunotherapy.
The post Joe Biden Diagnosis: Prostate Cancer and Gleason Score Explained appeared first on Newsweek.
