Joe Biden’s latest health battle is a grim reminder that time spares no one, not even former presidents. According to the BBC News, the 82-year-old was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer last week, a blow announced by his office on Sunday, November 17, 2024. It’s a sobering moment for a man who’s spent decades in the public eye, now facing a deeply personal fight.
Last week, Biden sought medical attention for urinary symptoms, leading to the discovery of high-grade prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9 out of 10. The cancer, hormone-sensitive but already spread to his bones, paints a challenging road ahead for the former president. In one sentence: Former President Joe Biden, aged 82, was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, and his family is now weighing treatment options.
Prostate cancer isn’t rare—13 out of 100 men will face it in their lifetime, per the CDC. Age is the biggest risk factor, and Biden, the oldest to ever hold the presidency, fits the profile. Yet, the aggressive nature of his diagnosis sets it apart, demanding urgent attention.
Biden’s health has been a lightning rod for criticism, especially after his shaky June 2024 debate performance against Donald Trump. That moment fueled concerns about his age and vitality, ultimately pushing him to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. Kamala Harris stepped in as the Democratic nominee, while Biden faded from the spotlight.
Since leaving the White House, Biden has kept a low profile, making only a handful of public appearances. In April 2024, he spoke at a Chicago conference for disability advocates, and in May, he sat down with the BBC to discuss his exit from the race. On *The View* that same month, he pushed back hard against claims of cognitive decline, saying, “There is nothing to sustain that.”
That denial now feels like a distant echo as Biden grapples with a far more tangible threat. The cancer’s spread to his bones complicates the prognosis, with Dr. William Dahut noting, “If cancer has spread to the bones, we don’t think it is considered a curable cancer.” Still, Dahut added, “Most patients tend to respond well to initial treatment, and people can live many years with the diagnosis.”
Biden and his family are now reviewing treatment options, likely focusing on hormonal therapies given the cancer’s hormone-sensitive nature. These therapies can manage the disease, but the high-grade diagnosis means time is of the essence. It’s a stark pivot for a man who’s long championed cancer research.
In 2022, Biden and his wife, Jill, relaunched the Cancer Moonshot initiative, aiming to prevent over four million cancer deaths by 2047. The loss of his son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015 gave that mission personal weight. Now, Biden faces the disease himself, turning advocacy into survival.
President Donald Trump, despite past political clashes, struck a gracious tone: “We are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis.” He extended “warmest and best wishes” for a “fast and successful recovery.” It’s a rare moment of unity in a polarized era, though skeptics might see it as political posturing.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris called Biden a “fighter,” predicting he’ll face this with “strength, resilience, and optimism.” Her words aim to inspire, but they sidestep the grim reality of a Gleason 9 diagnosis. Hope is vital, but cancer doesn’t bend to rhetoric.
Biden’s diagnosis underscores the brutal truth about aging in the public eye—every stumble, every symptom, gets magnified. His decision to step back from the 2024 race, driven by health and age concerns, now seems prescient. Actions have consequences, and sometimes, stepping aside is the boldest move.
The Cleveland Clinic notes prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, trailing only skin cancer. For Biden, this statistic is no longer abstract. His fight is personal, and the outcome will shape his legacy as much as his presidency did.
Biden’s cancer battle arrives at a time when America is deeply divided, yet his diagnosis has sparked rare bipartisan sympathy. Critics who once mocked his age now pause, reminded of shared humanity. It’s a fleeting truce in a culture war that never sleeps.
The road ahead for Biden is uncertain, with treatments that may extend life but not guarantee a cure. His family’s focus is on managing the disease, leaning on medical advances and personal resolve. The man who led a nation now faces a fight where resilience is the only currency.
As Biden navigates this chapter, the nation watches—not just a former president, but a man confronting mortality. His story reminds us that health, not politics, often writes the final word. For now, Biden’s fight is just beginning, and it’s one worth rooting for, regardless of party lines.
