Former US President Joe Biden expressed gratitude for an outpouring of global support following the announcement of his advanced prostate cancer diagnosis, stating that "cancer touches us all."
The 81-year-old Democrat, who dropped out of the 2024 presidential race last year citing health concerns, revealed he had been diagnosed on Friday with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasised to his bones.
“Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places,” Biden wrote on social media. “Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles III, who himself is undergoing cancer treatment, had sent a private letter to Biden offering his support and best wishes. The two leaders have met on several occasions and maintained warm ties throughout their respective tenures.
A statement from Biden’s office said he was found to have a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), denoting a high-grade and potentially fast-spreading form of prostate cancer. However, the disease was described as hormone-sensitive, a factor that allows for more effective management.
The diagnosis followed Biden's complaints of urinary symptoms, which led to the discovery of a small nodule on his prostate during medical evaluation.
The announcement has reignited debate over the transparency of Biden’s health during his presidency, with critics alleging that signs of his illness may have been concealed.
Among them, President Donald Trump offered mixed remarks, initially expressing sadness but later questioning the timing of the disclosure. “I am surprised that the public wasn't notified a long time ago,” Trump said at a press briefing on Monday, speculating—without evidence—that the illness might have been known earlier. “It could take years to get to this level of danger,” he added.
Vice-President JD Vance also weighed in, stating that while he wished Biden well, it was essential to acknowledge whether the former president was capable of governing effectively during his final months in office. “This is not child's play,” Vance remarked. “If you're not in good enough health to do the job, you shouldn't be doing the job.”
The news coincides with the impending release of a book titled Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, which alleges that aides considered placing Biden in a wheelchair during public appearances and that he failed to recognise actor and Democratic donor George Clooney at a fundraiser in 2023.
The book, set to hit shelves on Tuesday, adds fuel to ongoing scrutiny about the Biden administration's handling of the former president’s medical condition.
Despite the political undertones, support for Biden has poured in from across the political and global spectrum. Former President Barack Obama and Vice-President Kamala Harris have also extended their well-wishes, standing in solidarity with the former president and his family.
A 2014 UK study found that nearly 46% of cancer cases in Britain were only diagnosed at an advanced stage, lending context to the timing of Biden’s diagnosis.
Biden, whose first wife and daughter died in a tragic car accident in 1972 and whose son Beau succumbed to brain cancer in 2015, has often spoken publicly about the toll of illness and grief. His words on Monday struck a familiar tone of resilience: “We are strongest in the broken places.”
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