Joe Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Former President Joe Biden faces a new health challenge as he is diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, prompting discussions about his future.

Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to an announcement from his office on Sunday. The 82-year-old was alerted to the issue after experiencing urinary symptoms and was subsequently diagnosed on Friday. The cancer is classified with a Gleason score of 9, indicating a more aggressive type of the disease with bone metastasis.

Biden and his family are currently exploring treatment avenues, with his office noting that the illness is hormone-sensitive, suggesting manageable options may be available. The diagnosis arrives nearly a year after he made the difficult decision to step back from the 2024 presidential race, driven by health and age-related concerns. As the oldest individual to have served as president in US history, Biden has faced significant scrutiny regarding his capabilities, particularly following a lackluster performance in a previous debate against Republican candidate and current President Donald Trump, which led to his vice president Kamala Harris replacing him as the Democratic nominee.

According to Cancer Research UK, a Gleason score of 9 places Biden's cancer in the "high-grade" category, raising fears of rapid cell proliferation. As developments continue to unfold, the story remains in progress, with further details expected. For real-time updates, users can access notifications through the BBC News App or by following @BBCBreaking on X.