Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021, and will end on January 20, 2025, having been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer.
Former President Biden’s office said in a statement on Sunday, May 18, that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer (also known as prostatic carcinoma) on Friday, with cancer cells spreading to his bones.
Newsweek reported that many have questioned whether Biden, 82, knew about the cancer long before the president’s term ended in January, as it can be detected early through the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. However, an oncology professor on the subject said that such screening is of no use and that Biden’s cancer likely “grew quickly.”
Why It Matters
Biden’s age and health have been major concerns among voters during his time as president of the United States. Biden dismissed concerns about his mental acuity but ultimately withdrew from his race with Donald Trump for a second term after a disappointing performance in a debate in June last year. He was replaced by then-Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, 60, who lost the election to Republican Donald Trump.
According to Newsweek, the White House faced scrutiny over its transparency during Biden’s presidency. But new questions have been raised about what Biden kept hidden from the administration and the public.
However, there has been no current indication that Biden suffered from cancer while he was president.
Biden’s prostate cancer has reached a serious stage
Prostate cancer is classified according to the level of aggressiveness, known as the Gleason score, which ranges from 6 to 10. According to Biden’s office, his score is 9, which indicates that his cancer is in a serious state.
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