Former US President Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer
Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with a relatively aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office said in a statement
- WASHINGTON — Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with a relatively
aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office said in a statement.
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- “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new
finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,”
said a statement from Biden’s office.
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- “On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer,
characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (grade Group 5) with metastasis to the
bone.”
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- “While this represents a more aggressive form of the
disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective
management,” the statement went on to say. “The president and his family are
reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
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- President Biden is 82 and was the oldest president in the
US, when he left office earlier this year, making way for President Donald
Trump to return to the White House for a second term, defeating Vice-President
Kamala Harris.
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- The announcement was received with shock and sadness
across party lines.
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- “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s
recent medical diagnosis,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “We
extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a
fast and successful recovery,” he added
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- “Praying for Joe Biden and his family to defeat the
cancer he’s recently been diagnosed with,” Ro Khanna, a Democratic lawmaker,
wrote on X. “He and Jill have always been fighters, and I am confident they
will meet this challenge with grit and grace,” he added.
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- The Sunday announcement came amidst renewed interest in
President Biden’s health while he was still in office. Questions are being
raised about his mental fitness and acuity, with many Democrats expressing
surprise and dismay.
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- President Biden lost his son Beau Biden to cancer in
2015, and he has since led a moonshot initiative for cancer cure, first as
vice-president in President Barack Obama’s White House and then as president
since 2021.
