Former United States (US) president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, a statement from his office said on Sunday.
Biden (82) was diagnosed on Friday after he saw a doctor last week for urinary symptoms.
The cancer is characterised by a Gleason score of nine with metastasis to the bone, his office said, meaning it is a more aggressive form of the disease.
Biden and his family are said to be reviewing treatment options, the statement says. The former president’s office added that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, meaning it can likely be managed.
The news comes nearly a year after the former president was forced to drop out of the 2024 US presidential election over concerns about his health and age. He is the oldest person to hold the office in US history.
Biden, then the Democratic nominee vying for re-election, faced mounting criticism of his poor performance in a June televised debate against Republican nominee and current president Donald Trump. He was replaced as the Democratic candidate by his vice president Kamala Harris.
According to Cancer Research UK, Biden’s cancer diagnosis with a Gleason score of nine means his illness is classified as ‘high-grade’ and that the cancer cells could spread quickly.
This is a developing story.
– BBC
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