Biden diagnosed with aggressive, metastatic prostate cancer

The diagnosis came on Friday after doctors spotted urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule, according to the Associated Press, citing a statement from Biden’s office. The news was made public Sunday afternoon.

How serious is the cancer? Biden’s office characterized it as an aggressive form of cancer that had already spread to the bone. But doctors believed the cancer was hormone-sensitive, which would help them manage it, according to the statement. Biden and his family were in the process of reviewing possible treatment options with the doctors, according to the statement.

Prostate cancer is typically assigned what’s referred to as a Gleason score. The score rates cancerous cells on a scale of 1 to 10 to specify how they contrast with normal cells, with higher numbers on the scale demonstrating a more significant contrast. Biden’s cancer scored a 9 on the Gleason scale, placing it among the more aggressive cancers, according to his office.

What are other political leaders saying? Late Sunday afternoon, President Donald Trump wrote on social media that he and first lady Melania Trump were saddened to learn of Biden’s diagnosis. He went on to extend his best wishes to former first lady Jill Biden and to wish the former president a fast and successful recovery.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris also extended her best wishes to Biden and his family in a written statement. She characterized him as a fighter, adding that he would face this new challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism “that have always defined his life and leadership.”