Experts say Joe Biden’s cancer can no longer be treated but it can be treated
Former President Joe Biden’s cancer cells are ranked with a “high Gleason score.” This is what he means to treat him.
A spokesman for former President Joe Biden announced in a statement Sunday, May 18 that the former president was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer after his diagnosis on May 16th.
A statement provided to USA Today said Biden was “diagnosed with cancer with a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with bone metastasis,” but he was “hormonal susceptible.”
“The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his doctor,” the statement said.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, affecting one in eight men in the United States.
This is what you need to know about illness.
How common is prostate cancer?
The National Cancer Institute says it estimates that prostate cancer accounts for around 15.4% of all cancer cases, with 313,780 cases in 2025.
“I think that’s something a lot of men don’t talk about,” said Dr. Samuel Haywood, a urologist specializing in prostate cancer, when former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed he had undergone prostate cancer surgery in 2024.
According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 12.9% of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lifetime. The Institute also stated that in 2022 there were an estimated 3,518,978 men living with prostate cancer in the United States.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
The announcement said Biden had experienced “increased urinary symptoms” before his diagnosis. This coincides with the symptoms of prostate cancer at Cleveland Clinic.
These symptoms include:
- Especially at night, you need to pee frequently, sometimes urgently
- The weak urine flow or flow begins and stops
- Pain or burning during urination
- Loss of bladder control
- Loss of intestinal control
- Painful ejaculation and erectile dysfunction
- Semen or urinary blood
- Lower, lower back and chest pain
What is a Gleason score?
According to Mayo Clinic, Gleason’s score and grade indicate cancer aggression.
Mayo Clinic has a Gleason score in the range of 2-10, with scores below 5 not considered cancer, and a score of 10 means cancer is growing rapidly.
Pathologists determine scores by examining and grading biopsy cells on a 1-5 scale. Next, add the number of two most common grades to create a Gleason score.
Prognosis and treatment of prostate cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, non-interfering prostate cancer has a 5-year relative survival rate of 97.9%, but according to Mayo Clinic, it is a prostate cancer that metastasizes and spreads to other parts of the body.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, management of the disease may include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, among other treatments.
Men in the early stages of prostate cancer can opt for “active surveillance.” A 2023 study found that those who chose to waited carefully were more likely to die than those who chose surgery or radiation, and probably had no side effects other than anxiety.
Joe Biden has been diagnosed with “aggressive” prostate cancer
Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with a “aggressive” form of prostate cancer.
Prominent people with prostate cancer
Apart from Biden and Austin, many notable people have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
According to the Boston Globe, it includes:
- Robert de Niro
- Mandy is good
- Ian McKellen
- Former Secretaries of Colin Powell and John Kelly
- Former California Governor Jerry Brown
- Joe Torre
According to the Boston Globe, the following people who died from the illness were:
- Dennis Jump
- Gary Cooper
- Jerry Obach
- Johnny Ramone
- French François Mitterland train president
This story has been updated to add new information.
Contributors: Joey Garrison, Charles Trepany, Karen Weintraub – USA TODAY.
