Former U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, is set to begin radiation therapy after doctors confirmed that his prostate cancer has spread to his bones.
His spokesperson said on Saturday that the former president will also receive hormone therapy along with radiation treatment, which will last for five weeks. Biden has already started taking hormone pills as part of the treatment plan.
The latest update comes months after Biden revealed in May that his cancer had advanced, shortly after doctors found a small nodule on his prostate during a routine check-up.
“President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing urinary symptoms. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason Score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,” his office said in a statement.
A Gleason Score of 9 shows one of the most severe forms of prostate cancer. However, his doctors said the disease is hormone-sensitive, which means it can still be controlled with proper treatment.
In recent months, Biden also underwent treatment for skin cancer and was seen with a bandage on his forehead during public appearances.
At almost 83 years old, Biden remains the oldest person ever to have served as U.S. president. Medical experts say prostate cancer is common among older men, with more than half of all cases found in men over 65.
Biden’s health has been a major topic of political debate. Concerns over his fitness for office reportedly influenced his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, allowing his former vice president, Kamala Harris, to become the Democratic candidate.
Sources within the Democratic Party later admitted that Biden’s aides tried to downplay his health issues, assuring party leaders that he was well enough to run. Reports from The Washington Post claim Biden is still unhappy about stepping down and often argues with his team about how to respond to President Donald Trump’s policies.
Since leaving office, Biden has been writing his memoir and planning for his presidential library.
His current battle with cancer is especially painful as it reminds him of his late son, Beau Biden, who died from brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46. Biden has said his son’s illness may have been caused by exposure to military burn pits during his service in Iraq.
