Former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasised to his bones, placing him in the most advanced stage of the disease. Prostate cancer originates in the prostate, a small gland responsible for producing seminal fluid. It ranks as the fourth most common cancer globally and the second most common among men, with 1.47 million new cases reported in 2022. The United States accounted for the highest percentage of cases, followed by China.
In the US, prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among men after skin cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths after lung cancer. Statistically, about one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and one in 44 will die from it. While most forms grow slowly and may not require immediate treatment, aggressive variants like Biden’s pose a higher risk and demand urgent intervention. The most typical type is acinar adenocarcinoma, which generally progresses slowly and may allow men to live for years without symptoms.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2025, the US will see around 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer and approximately 35,770 related deaths. After a decline in diagnoses from 2007 to 2014—due in part to reduced screening—cases have been rising again at an average rate of 3 percent per year. Factors such as age, ethnicity, and family history can increase the risk of developing the disease.
Symptoms of prostate cancer may include changes in urination, erectile dysfunction, blood in the urine or semen, and fatigue. When the cancer spreads, bones are typically the first site of metastasis. Bone metastasis can result in severe pain, fractures, spinal cord issues, and abnormal calcium levels, all of which require specialised treatment alongside standard cancer therapies.
Biden’s cancer was scored nine out of 10 on the Gleason scale, indicating a highly aggressive form. This diagnosis classifies his cancer as stage four, the most advanced stage. His team is currently reviewing treatment options. Advances in detection and therapy had cut prostate cancer deaths in half between 1993 and 2022, though this progress has recently slowed as more cases are being found at later stages. According to the World Health Organization, prostate cancer caused over 21,000 deaths among men aged 75 and older in the US in 2022.
READ MORE: