Joseph R. Biden Jr., the former president of the US, announced his diagnosis of an “aggressive” prostate cancer on May 18. The tumor was found during a routine physical exam when a nodule was discovered that required further evaluation.
The prostate cancer, which has already spread to parts of his bone, was determined to be Stage 4. The cancer had a Gleason score of 9, which indicates an aggressive form of cancer with a high likelihood of spreading rapidly. Biden is currently looking at possible treatments, with the most optimistic treatment reducing hormone levels that are fueling cancer growth.
“As men get older, they need to get regular prostate exams so that they can catch the cancer early before it spreads,” Niko Lambert, AP Biology teacher, said. “In the early stages of cancer, there are no definitive symptoms, so it is hard to notice it early on. Many of the common symptoms associated with cancer come from treatments, like how chemotherapies often lead to hair loss.”
Biden had a long history with cancer even before his time in the office, with multiple recorded cases of skin cancer during his term, which led to a surgical removal of cancerous cells, with his age the most likely cause of his medical history.
“It is very unfortunate that Joe Biden got prostate cancer,” Jason Kang (10), politics enthusiast, said. “I saw it on social media while going to school, and I remember being shocked by the news. I think it also points out that frequent health checkups are important, especially as people get older.”
Many other significant political figures have also sent their regards to Biden, including President Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Amid the hopeful prayers, the murmurs of uncertainty and doubt still permeate the social space. Biden’s prostate cancer has led people to speculate that Biden may have hidden his physical and mental instability for the 2024 election. Democrats and republicans alike have shown concerns about the possibilities if Biden were reelected and what that could have implied for the US government.
“Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.
