The Associated Press is reporting that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The AP said the news was confirmed by Biden’s office.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” his office said in the statement. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
According to the report, Biden was diagnosed Friday, after a prostate nodule was found. Cancer cells have spread to the bone, meaning the cancer has metastasized. His cancer reportedly has a Gleason score of 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, further confirming that the cancer is aggressive.
The American Cancer Society reports that 5-year survival rates for metastatic prostate cancer are 37%. When prostate cancer is found in earlier stages, 5-year survival is 99%. A study in JAMA Network Open has found that many deaths for those with metastatic prostate cancer come for other causes, however.
Biden’s visit to physicians was prompted by urinary symptoms, the AP reported.
The Biden family has been deeply affected by cancer. His oldest son, Beau Biden, died of brain cancer almost 10 years ago on May 30, 2015. In response, then Vice President Biden and Second Lady Jill Biden launched the Cancer Moonshot, which resumed when Biden became president. The goals of the Moonshot are to prevent 4 million cancer deaths by 2047 and to improve the lives of those living with cancer.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for men, behind lung cancer.
