Former US President Joe Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy as part of his treatment for prostate cancer. His spokesperson confirmed that the 82-year-old president is also receiving hormone treatment, though no further details were provided.
Sources indicate that the radiation treatment is expected to continue for five weeks, marking a significant step in his medical care. This development follows the announcement in May that Biden was diagnosed with a more aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. The condition was detected after he reported urinary symptoms, which led to the discovery of a small nodule on his prostate.
Biden’s office had previously stated that his prostate cancer was classified as high-grade, with a Gleason score of 9, suggesting a potential for rapid spread. However, the cancer is reportedly hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management.
Having left office as the oldest serving US president, Biden’s health had been a recurring topic of discussion throughout his term, influencing his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. His former Vice President, Kamala Harris, ultimately ran as the Democratic candidate.
Biden has a long-standing commitment to cancer research, having relaunched the “cancer moonshot” initiative in 2022 with the ambitious goal of preventing millions of cancer deaths by 2047. His personal experience with loss, including the death of his eldest son Beau to brain cancer in 2015, has fueled his dedication to this cause.
While Biden has maintained a lower public profile in recent months, he previously spoke with the BBC about his decision to step down from the presidential race, calling it “difficult.”
Prostate cancer remains a significant health concern, being the second most common cancer among men in the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 13 out of 100 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, with age being a primary risk factor.