Former President Joe Biden has spoken out publicly for the first time since receiving his cancer diagnosis, sharing a heartfelt message on social media Monday morning.
“Cancer touches us all,” the 82-year-old Biden wrote on X, accompanied by a selfie showing him with a smile next to former first lady Jill Biden holding their gray tabby cat Willow.
His message continued with words of resilience: “Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
The social media post comes shortly after Biden’s personal office revealed the serious nature of his condition – he was diagnosed on Friday with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has already metastasized to his bones.
Biden was seen for “a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,” according to the statement released by his office.
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The diagnosis revealed troubling details about the former president’s condition: “On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.”
Medical experts classify prostate cancers using the “Gleason score,” which measures how cancerous cells compare to normal cells.
Biden’s score of 9 indicates his cancer is among the most aggressive forms of the disease.
Despite the severity, Biden’s office noted a potential silver lining: “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.”
This announcement follows recent reports that a “small nodule” had been discovered on Biden’s prostate requiring further evaluation.
The Biden family is currently weighing treatment options, per the Daily Mail.
President Donald Trump has responded with sympathy following Biden’s announcement.
In a Truth Social post shared Sunday afternoon, Trump expressed his concern alongside First Lady Melania Trump, stating, “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis.”
The president continued with a message of goodwill toward the Biden family, writing, “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also shared her support for Biden, with whom she served in the previous administration.
“Doug and I are saddened to learn of President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis. We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time,” Harris wrote in her message.
Harris emphasized Biden’s resilient character in her statement, adding, “Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”
A source familiar with the former president’s thinking told NBC News that Biden and his family are currently considering “multiple treatment options,” which may include hormone treatment for the cancer.
Dr. Alan Tan, genitourinary section lead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explained the significance of this score, stating, “Gleason nine is by definition, aggressive, but you don’t know how bad it is unless you know what the PET scan looks like.”
Dr. Tan, who has no involvement in Biden’s medical care, noted that this form of cancer is not particularly unusual.
“This is the most common thing I see in my clinic,” he said.
“This is bread and butter genitourinary oncology.”
The American Cancer Society reports that approximately 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
The disease is particularly common among older men and ranks as the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer.
