Former US President Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Form of Prostate Cancer

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has developed an aggressive and advanced form of prostate cancer, a statement released by his office said.

"Last week, President Joe Biden was evaluated for a new development of a prostate nodule following a growing urination symptom," the statement disclosed.

After undergoing medical examinations, Biden was officially diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday. The disease has been graded with a Gleason score of 9 (grade Group 5), and it has already metastasized to his bones.

Although this is a more advanced manifestation of the disease, the cancer seems to be hormone-sensitive, and so there are effective treatment options available," the statement added. It also said that the former president and his family are consulting with physicians regarding potential treatment options.

Biden was 82 years old when he became the oldest person to have served as president prior to resigning earlier this year, allowing Donald Trump to start a second term after he won then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden's condition was greeted with bipartisan concern and sympathy by news of it.

"Melania and I are saddened to hear of Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis," President Trump wrote on Truth Social. "We wish our warmest and best to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a swift and successful recovery," he continued.

Representative Ro Khanna also expressed his support on Twitter: "Praying for Joe Biden and his family to overcome the cancer he's been diagnosed with recently. He and Jill have been fighters throughout, and I believe they will confront this challenge with grit and with grace."

The announcement follows a period when public pressure on Biden's health had already grown in the last few months of his presidency, with increasing worries among Democrats about his mental acuity.

Biden, who lost his son Beau Biden in 2015 to brain cancer, is an outspoken supporter of cancer research. He created a cancer moonshot program during his time in office as vice president under Barack Obama and continued lobbying for the program during his presidency starting in 2021.