JAKARTA Former US President Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer in aggressive form and has spread to his bones. This information was conveyed by Biden's private office on Sunday, May 18 local time.
Last week, President Joe Biden underwent an examination of nodules on the prostate after experiencing worsening urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer with a score of Gleason 9 (Grade Group 5) which has metastasized to the bone, "he said in an official statement, quoted from the CNN page.
However, the cancer that the 82-year-old man has is known to be still sensitive to hormones, which means it can still be managed through treatment. Currently, Biden and his family are consulting a team of doctors to determine the best handling steps.
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, an urologist and robotic surgeon from Orlando Health who was not involved in Biden's treatment, explained that prostate cancer is a common disease, especially in elderly men.
"As people age, most men will have small cancer cells in their bodies," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Benjamin Davies, professor of oncology urology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, called the Gleason 9 score the most aggressive form of prostate cancer.
"This is the most violent form of prostate cancer," he explained by email.
Although it has spread to the bone which indicates serious and irreparable conditions, experts assess modern treatments such as hormone therapy and the latest chemotherapy can prolong life expectancy and improve the patient's quality of life.
Some treatment can have an impact on memory, mood, and quality of life. So decision-making must be careful so as not to be too aggressive," said Brahmhatt.
Biden's health has been in the public spotlight since the 2024 presidential election campaign, especially after his weak performance in the debate against Donald Trump in June 2024. Some time later, Biden decided to step down from his candidacy.
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A book by Jake Tapper (CNN) and Alex Thompson (Axios) reveals that signs of a decline in Biden's physical condition were seen long before the debate. One of them was the moment when Biden did not recognize actor George Clooney during last year's fundraising event.
However, Biden briefly appeared on television show The View earlier this month with his wife, Jill Biden, and dismissed the issue of cognitive decline.
"They were wrong. There is no evidence to suggest that," said Biden.
"The people who wrote the book were not at the White House with us. They didn't see how hard Joe worked every day," he added.
News of Biden's diagnosis immediately received sympathy from many figures, including his political opponent, Donald Trump.
"Melania and I are saddened to hear Joe Biden's diagnosis. We send our best wishes and prayers to Jill and the whole family. May Joe recover quickly and recover," Trump wrote via Truth Social.
Vice President Kamala Harris also expressed her hopes.
"Joe is a fighter. We wish him a speedy and full recovery," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Former Presidents Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton also expressed their support.
"No one has done more to advance cancer research than Joe," Obama wrote.
The fight against cancer is very personal for Biden. His son, Beau Biden, died of brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46.
In 2016, Biden led Cancer Moonshot while still serving as vice president under Barack Obama's administration. The program was re-launched in 2022 while serving as president, targeting to reduce the death toll from cancer by 50% in 25 years.
"I'm sure we can achieve it. It's not just a matter of personal life, but about what might be done together." said Biden when announcing new funding worth 150 million US dollars or Rp. 2.4 trillion for cancer research last August.
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