Rhiannon Ingle
Former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it has been announced.
A statement released this evening (18 May) by his office said the 82-year-old Democrat, who left the White House in January, had an 'aggressive form of cancer'.
It reads: "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, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone."
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The statement continues: "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."
According to Cancer Research UK, a Gleason score of nine means that the cancerous cells 'look very abnormal'.
It also means the disease is 'likely to grow quickly'.
The 46th president of the United States, who came between current president Donald Trump's two terms, served in the role from 2021 to 2025.
He also served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 under President Barack Obama.
Biden told supporters 'we all have more to do' in a farewell address on Trump's inauguration day back in January, per Sky News.
"We're leaving office - but we're not leaving the fight," he said.
He continued: "The point I want to make clear today in my farewell address - is we all have more to do. You heard the inaugural address today - we got a lot more to do.
"Look, I know from many years of experience, there are ups and downs, but we have to stay with it.
"My dad taught me the measure of a person is how quickly they get up when they get knocked down - and that's what we have to do right now.
"We never give up - we're leaving office - but we're not leaving the fight."
Biden has previously dealt with cancer before as, prior to starting his presidency, he had several non-melanoma skin cancers surgically removed.
He also had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest in February 2023.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the States.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.