Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. His office released a statement on Sunday (May 18, 2025) detailing the illness.
He and his family are considering treatment options. The office added that Biden's cancer has a Gleason score of 9 out of 10, which is used to determine how aggressive prostate cancer is. In Biden's case, the cancer is very aggressive.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men and is often slow-growing, meaning men can live for decades without even knowing they have the disease. Most cases of the disease are classified as 'acinar adenocarcinoma', which is usually slow-growing, but some can be aggressive. Early diagnosis significantly improves survival rates.
Although age, obesity, ethnicity, and family history increase the risk, the exact causes are unknown. Cancer begins when prostate cells develop changes in their DNA that cause them to grow and divide too quickly.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
Changes in urination
Erectile dysfunction
Blood in the urine or semen
Bone pain or fatigue (in more advanced cases)
How is prostate cancer treated?
Treatment depends on the case and may include:
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Hormonal therapy
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
Medications
Complications:
When cancer spreads, it usually goes to the bones first. Bone metastases can cause:
Severe pain
Fractures
Spinal cord complications
Dangerous levels of calcium in the blood
Managing these complications is vital. In addition to standard therapies, there are also specific treatments for bone-related problems.
Aggressive prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is graded according to a scale called Gleason, which ranges from 6-10, depending on how the cancerous cells look compared to normal ones.
A Gleason score of 6 or 7 is considered less aggressive; the cells appear healthy or somewhat healthy. These types may spread more slowly.
A Gleason score of 8 or higher indicates high aggressiveness; the cells are severely damaged and very different from normal cells.
