Joe Biden, who used to be the president of the United States, has some serious health news. His office said on Sunday that he has a type of cancer called prostate cancer, and it’s an aggressive form—which means it’s growing fast. The cancer has also spread to his bones, which makes it more serious.
What Is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer happens in a part of the body called the prostate, which is a small gland found only in men. Sometimes, cancer can start there and grow. When it spreads to other parts of the body, like bones, it is called metastatic cancer, or Stage 4 cancer. Stage 4 means the cancer is more advanced and harder to cure.
How Did They Find Out?
Biden, who is 82 years old, noticed some problems with his bathroom habits—things like needing to go to the toilet more often or having trouble peeing. This made him see doctors, and they discovered the cancer last Friday.
What Does This Mean for Biden?
Even though this is a serious diagnosis, Biden’s cancer is hormone-sensitive, which means doctors can use medicines that block hormones to help control it.
His cancer was given a score of 9 out of 10 on something called the Gleason score, which shows how aggressive the cancer is. A score this high means it’s a “very high risk” cancer. But, doctors say many men with this kind of cancer can still live 5 to 10 years or longer because treatments have improved a lot.
What Are Doctors Saying?
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Dr. Herbert Lepor, a cancer doctor, says people with advanced prostate cancer have more treatment options today than ever before.
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Dr. Chris George, another expert, said that while cancer that spreads to bones can’t be cured, it can still be managed to help people live longer and feel better.
What About Biden’s Past and Presidency?
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Biden was the oldest person to become US president when he was elected in 2020 at 78 years old.
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His health and sharpness were talked about a lot during his time in office.
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He stopped running for president again last year, after some people worried he was too old.
What’s Happened Since?
Since leaving the White House, Biden has kept mostly quiet, making only a few public appearances. He has defended his time as president and said reports about problems with his memory were wrong.
What Are People Saying?
Many leaders from both political parties have sent messages of support to Biden.
For example, Vice President Kamala Harris said,
“Joe is a fighter. He will face this challenge with strength and hope.”
Biden’s Personal Battle
Biden lost his son Beau to brain cancer in 2015, so cancer has been a personal struggle for his family. In 2022, he brought back a government program called Cancer Moonshot, which aims to cut cancer deaths by half in 25 years.
In Summary
Joe Biden has a serious form of prostate cancer that has spread, but with modern medicine, there are ways to manage it. He and his family are working with doctors to decide the best treatments. Many people are sending him hope and prayers for a strong fight ahead.
