Former President Joe Biden has stepped back into the spotlight, albeit with a slower stride, for the first time since revealing a grueling battle with advanced prostate cancer.
Just days after the announcement of his treatment, Biden made a poignant appearance at an evening Mass in Wilmington, Delaware, reminding us all that even political giants face deeply human struggles, as New York Post reports.
Last week, the public learned that Biden, now 82, is undergoing a five-week regimen of radiation and hormone therapy for Stage 4 prostate cancer, a serious condition that has already spread to his bones.
Doctors have classified this as a high-grade cancer with a Gleason score of nine out of ten, signaling an aggressive foe, though thankfully hormone-sensitive and manageable with medication alongside radiation.
On Saturday, Biden attended the roughly hour-long service at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Church, dressed in a somber dark suit, looking noticeably frail as he leaned on a woman for support while exiting.
A visible scar above his right eye, a remnant of last month’s skin cancer surgery, added to the image of a man bearing multiple health burdens as he quietly chatted with parishioners for about ten minutes post-service.
Notably absent was First Lady Jill Biden, leaving the former president to navigate this public moment without her familiar presence at his side.
This isn’t Biden’s first tango with cancer—last year, while still in the Oval Office, he had a cancerous growth removed from his chest, and doctors deemed it successfully treated with no further action needed.
Yet, with additional skin cancer procedures, including the recent one leaving that forehead scar, it’s clear his health challenges are piling up faster than regulations from a progressive think tank.
Since stepping away from the White House earlier this year, Biden has kept a low profile, limiting appearances mostly to medical updates, a stark contrast to the relentless spotlight of his presidency.
His age and fitness were already hot topics during his final year in office, with debates over his capacity intensifying after a shaky performance in a high-stakes debate, ultimately leading to his exit from the re-election race in July 2024.
Handing the baton to then-Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden cited health concerns among the reasons for stepping back, a decision that still sparks discussion among conservatives wary of leadership vacuums.
Despite the ongoing therapy, aides have signaled that Biden isn’t retreating entirely, with plans to attend an award ceremony in Boston and a Democratic fundraiser in Nebraska in the coming weeks.
While some might question the timing of such events amid treatment, it’s hard not to respect the grit of a man pushing forward, even if one disagrees with the policies he championed.
Let’s be real—health battles don’t care about political affiliation, and seeing Biden, frail yet determined, reminds us to keep policy critiques sharp but personal empathy sharper.
