As former President Joe Biden is diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, here are the symptoms men should be aware of that can often be seen as normal signs of getting older
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his representatives have confirmed. The announcement follows the 82-year-old’s recent hospitalisation for the evaluation of a “prostate nodule” – news which initially drew little concern.
Doctors have now confirmed that the anomaly is grade 5 prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9, indicating a highly aggressive form of the disease. The cancer has reportedly metastasised to his bones, and Mr Biden and his family are currently considering treatment options.
Earlier this month, the politician appeared on The View alongside wife Jill Biden, and appeared in good spirits. However, men’s health expert Dr Jeff Foster of Manual.co said Mr Biden’s old age would make it more difficult to tell he’s ill, despite suffering from the aggressive cancer.
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“Biden is an elderly and quite frail man, so you would be unlikely to know he has prostate cancer,” he told the Mirror.
“If he was to go on to chemotherapy or radiotherapy then he may appear more tired or unwell.”
The prostate cancer expert highlighted that many men miss the symptoms of the disease as they are often subtle, making them difficult to pick up on.
“So many cases of prostate cancer are silent and many men may have no symptoms at all,” explains Dr Foster.
“But the disease can be picked up by routine screening on a prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a blood test used to help detect prostate problems, including prostate cancer.
“The other difficulty that we have is in some men is that the symptoms are often confused with normal ageing. As as we get older, our flow starts to reduce and men often don’t realise it could be a sign of prostate cancer.
“Common symptoms of prostate cancer include reduced urinary flow, difficulty starting, difficulty stopping, hesitancy, feeling like you have not completely emptied, and needing to go again a few minutes later.”
He added: “However, these can also be a sign of a non-cancerous larger prostate. If you have any blood in your urine, pain in the hips or pelvis, or a sudden change in your urinary function, then those are huge red flags.”
News of Biden’s diagnosis has prompted a wave of support from across the political spectrum. Former President Donald Trump offered an unusually brief and conciliatory message on his Truth Social platform, writing: “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
The shock diagnosis comes after Mr Biden was declared “healthy” in February 2024 following his annual physical examination. Though his physician declared him “fit to serve” last year the former president’s decline during his final year in office stirred concern both publicly and privately.
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