Former President Joe Biden broke his silence about his prostate cancer diagnosis during Memorial Day remarks, telling reporters he’s “feeling good” and expects to “be able to beat this.”
The announcement came hours after his office disclosed the high-grade diagnosis with a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), indicating aggressive cancer cells that may spread rapidly according to Cancer Research UK standards.
The Gleason scoring system measures prostate cancer aggressiveness on a scale of 6-10, with Biden’s 9 placing him in the most serious category before metastatic spread. However, modern treatments including radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and surgery show strong success rates even for high-grade cases when detected early. White House physicians confirmed the cancer appears localized to the prostate based on initial tests.
This marks the second major health disclosure from the 80-year-old president after his 2021 admission of atrial fibrillation. Medical experts note the transparency aligns with modern presidential health disclosure norms, contrasting with historical secrecy about leaders’ conditions. Biden’s team emphasized he remains fully capable of executing presidential duties while undergoing treatment.
Biden joins approximately 288,000 American men diagnosed annually with prostate cancer, the second-leading cancer cause of death among men. His diagnosis renews discussions about advanced-age leadership, coming just weeks before his scheduled physical exam results. Oncologists stress that many patients maintain active lifestyles during treatment, with survival rates exceeding 97% for localized high-grade cases.
