Joe Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of cancer
Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer “with metastasis to the bone.”
A statement from his personal office Sunday indicated: “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.
“On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis 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.
“The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
BREAKING: Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. pic.twitter.com/ietkYj4rYL
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 18, 2025
President Donald Trump reacted to the news 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.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News’ senior medical analyst, told anchor Jon Scott: “I’m a little taken aback that it’s this far advanced.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s ominous, but I’d say it’s very, very concerning and clearly a life-threatening situation.”
He noted about “80% of men at the age of 80 have some prostate cancer cells in their body” and that “the five year survival rate is somewhere between 30% and 40%.”
Peter Doocy, the White House correspondent for Fox News, said, “It’s very sad to hear.”
“As far as the diagnosis, we just know what we’re told,” Doocy continued. “White House officials assured us through July of last year that he was healthy enough to serve another term.”
“Who knows how long they’ve actually known about it?”
CNN: Former President Joe Biden has just announced that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. pic.twitter.com/UG49WIhKza
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 18, 2025
Jeff Mason, the Reuters White House correspondent, extended his best wishes to the 82-year-old Biden and his family, and explained, “From a political angle, it will absolutely, when you set aside the realities, the health issues he’s now dealing with which is private but also a story as a former president, it will also raise questions again about his decision to run for re-election.”
“A lot of those questions were focused on his mental acuity, but his age of course means there’s a higher likelihood of having diagnoses and diseases that come to you as you get older.”
When asked if he thought the diagnosis would create more sympathy for Biden, Mason responded: “I don’t know the answer to that but I think certainly the American people and people in general when they see somebody facing a diagnosis with this, have sympathy. And I’ll be interested to watch how that sympathy manifests itself in terms of how people respond on Capitol Hill from both parties.”
Meghan McCain, daughter of former U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who died of brain cancer in 2018, said on X: “Cancer is the absolute worst. It is hell. It is incredibly difficult for any family, anywhere that has to deal with it.
“Wishing nothing but healing, prayers, light and strength to President Biden and his family. I don’t believe times like these are appropriate for politics.”
Follow Joe on X @JoeKovacsNews