Former President Joe Biden has shared that he’s dealing with a pretty serious health issue.

The 82-year-old’s office put out a statement on May 18 confirming the news.

It said: “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.
On Friday he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.”

His team officially confirmed the cancer diagnosis

Joe Biden’s office explained that while this is a tougher kind of cancer, it’s something that can be treated.

“The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

The cancer is aggressive but doctors are hopeful

Unfortunately, the cancer was found to have spread to the bone, and it’s got a high Gleason score, which usually means it’s more aggressive.

But the update also had a silver lining. “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.”

He had some symptoms before finding out

Before doctors found the cancer, Biden had started noticing some issues.

“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.”

A look back at Biden’s time in office

Biden became the 46th president back in November 2020, when he beat Donald Trump in the election.

He wrapped up his term on January 20, after Trump won the next election and returned to the White House, beating Biden’s VP Kamala Harris.

Why he decided to step away from the 2024 race

Even though Biden started another campaign, he ended up stepping back just three months before the election.

In a message to Americans, he said: “And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

He listed the big things his presidency accomplished

Before stepping away, Biden talked about everything he felt proud of.

“Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.

Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans.”

“We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.”

A heartfelt thank you to Americans

Biden added: “I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.”

You could tell serving as president meant the world to him. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President.”

He ended his message with a hopeful reminder

He wrapped things up with something he’s always believed in.

“I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do — when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.”