Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, spread to bone

The news: Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer that “has metastasized to the bone,” his office said in a statement on Sunday US time.

Biden, 82, was in a Philadelphia hospital last week after experiencing urinary symptoms, where doctors discovered a “small nodule” on his prostate, according to media reports.

The cancer is “characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5),” and “appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” the statement said. Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.

The context: Biden was the oldest-serving president in US history and ended his 2024 re-election bid in July after a halting debate performance prompted concerns about his mental acuity.