Joe Biden diagnosed with severe prostate cancer, spread to bones

Department of Research, Studies and International News -19-05-2025

In a significant development that has stirred political circles in Washington and beyond, Joe Biden, the 82-year-old former President of the United States, has been diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer. According to a statement issued by his office on Sunday, the illness has metastasized to his bones, an indicator of late-stage progression.

This diagnosis came after Biden sought medical attention for urinary complications, where physicians discovered abnormalities in the prostate gland. The statement described the cancer as hormone-sensitive, which suggests that it could potentially be managed through hormone therapy. However, the severity of the case was underlined by a Gleason score of 9, which places Biden’s cancer among the most aggressive forms known in clinical oncology.

Prostate cancer that spreads to the bone is notoriously difficult to treat due to the complexity of eradicating dispersed tumors. While certain treatments can slow the progression, such a diagnosis typically signals a serious challenge for the patient and their medical team. Biden’s family is currently consulting with his physicians to determine the most suitable treatment strategy.

Interestingly, even his political rival and successor, Donald Trump, reacted with a rare moment of civility. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump extended wishes of a speedy recovery to Biden and his family, a gesture that echoed the mutual sympathies expressed during a previous incident involving Trump himself. Trump, who returned to the White House in January 2025 after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election, remains a controversial figure globally for his often divisive rhetoric and foreign policy.

Kamala Harris, once Biden’s vice president, expressed her condolences online, describing Biden as a fighter with resilience and optimism. Similarly, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other Western leaders issued public statements wishing him well.

However, behind these public displays of sympathy lies a more complex and politically charged atmosphere. Biden’s health had long been a point of contention among American voters and within his own party. His advanced age, frequent verbal gaffes, and episodes of forgetfulness fueled ongoing debates about his fitness to lead, which ultimately led him to withdraw from seeking a second term. His exit paved the way for Kamala Harris’s candidacy, who was later defeated by Trump in a hotly contested election.

A forthcoming book titled Original Sin by CNN’s Jake Tapper and journalist Alex Thompson is expected to intensify scrutiny over the handling of Biden’s health issues. Drawing from over 200 interviews with political insiders and members of Congress, the book reportedly reveals deliberate efforts by White House aides to downplay Biden’s cognitive and physical decline. Incidents include memory lapses, disoriented public speeches, and an inability to recognize well-known figures, raising concerns about transparency and political accountability in the U.S. leadership.

Biden has a history of health challenges, including multiple cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and the surgical removal of a cancerous lesion from his chest in 2023. Despite these concerns, he spearheaded the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative during his presidency, aiming to significantly reduce cancer-related deaths within 25 years. The initiative was deeply personal, inspired by the death of his son, Beau Biden, from brain cancer in 2015.

Reactions from establishment figures such as Barack Obama and California Governor Gavin Newsom were filled with praise and well-wishes, describing Biden as a man of faith, strength, and compassion. However, these tributes cannot mask the growing unease over how Biden’s declining health was handled, particularly in a country that often lectures others about governance, transparency, and democratic ideals.

For nations that have often been on the receiving end of American political and media narratives, such as China, Russia, and Pakistan, this episode underscores a recurring irony: a superpower struggling to confront its internal vulnerabilities while maintaining a posture of global dominance. The Biden administration, during its tenure, actively pursued confrontational policies towards these states, often under the guise of defending “democracy” and “human rights,” while neglecting domestic issues, including the health and well-being of its own leadership.

As Biden begins the difficult journey of treatment, the world watches not just a medical struggle, but a symbolic moment for a nation that has often positioned itself as a model of resilience and order. This diagnosis may very well mark the end of an era and a poignant reminder of the limits of power, no matter how global its reach may be.