Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office said on Sunday.
“Last week, President Biden underwent a medical examination for a newly discovered growth in his prostate after experiencing severe urinary problems. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, with a Gleason score of 9 (Group 5), with confirmed bone metastases,” the statement said.
It added that while it is a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for more effective treatment.
Biden and his family are currently reviewing treatment options in consultation with doctors, the statement concluded.
Doctor William Dahut spoke about his condition.
He is the Chief Scientific Officer of the American Cancer Society and a trained prostate cancer physician.
told the BBC that the cancer was more aggressive, based on publicly available information about Biden’s diagnosis.
“Generally, if the cancer has spread to the bones, we don’t think it’s considered a curable cancer,” Dahut said.
However, he noted that most patients respond well to initial treatment and that people can live many years with the diagnosis.
Dahut said patients diagnosed with Biden’s will likely be offered hormone therapy to ease symptoms and slow the growth of cancer cells.
Biden has retreated from the public eye since leaving the White House and has made few public appearances, and in recent months has faced questions about the status of his health.
