Former US President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. The diagnosis was made on Friday after Biden saw a doctor last week for urinary symptoms. According to his office, the cancer is a more aggressive form of the disease, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 out of 10, indicating “high-grade” cancer cells that could spread quickly.

“The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians,” his office said in a statement. Fortunately, the cancer is hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management.

This health update comes nearly a year after Biden dropped out of the 2024 US presidential election over concerns about his health and age. As the oldest person to hold the office in US history, Biden faced mounting criticism of his poor performance in a June televised debate against Republican nominee and current President Donald Trump.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men, behind skin cancer, with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stating that 13 out of every 100 men will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Age is the most common risk factor.

Biden has largely retreated from the public eye since leaving the White House but made recent public appearances, including a keynote speech in April and an interview with the BBC in May. In the interview, he admitted that stepping down from the 2024 race was “difficult”. His office has confirmed that Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.