The news broke fast on Friday, May 16, 2025: Joe Biden, the 82-year-old former president who went from Scranton to the Oval Office, has a tough fight ahead with prostate cancer that’s spread to his bones.

This is no ordinary diagnosis—it’s a high-grade, aggressive cancer with a 30% to 40% shot of making it five years.

“On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,” his office said in a statement, laying out a stark reality just months after Biden left the White House.

The announcement stopped Washington cold, pulling reactions from rivals and supporters in a fleeting moment of common ground.

Doctors found the cancer during routine checkups, but its advanced stage caught them off guard.

A Gleason score of 9 means the cancer’s mean and fast-moving, and its jump to Biden’s bones makes it even harder to tackle. “It’s the most aggressive form of prostate cancer,” said Dr. Benjamin Davies, a prostate cancer expert at the University of Pittsburgh.

“I was taken aback when I heard it was so far advanced,” he said, puzzled that it went unnoticed in someone with Biden’s level of medical care.

Now, Biden’s looking at heavy treatments—hormone shots, radiation, maybe chemo—none of them easy for a guy his age.

This hits just as Biden was easing into life after the presidency, working on a book and popping up at Democratic events after a 50-year career that ended in January 2025.

He hasn’t spoken publicly about the diagnosis, and his team’s keeping details tight, letting the statement do the talking.

The cancer’s spread means Biden’s in for a rough ride, with treatments that’ll likely leave him worn out and sore. “It’s a hard road, physically and emotionally,” Davies said, spelling out what’s ahead.

The political world set aside its usual bickering. Donald Trump, now president and once Biden’s fierce opponent, sent a public nod.

“President Trump offers a message of support to former President Biden, who was just diagnosed with an ‘aggressive form’ of prostate cancer,”

Trump’s team posted online. “Wishing a speedy recovery to President Biden,” they added.

Vice President JD Vance chimed in: “Wishing strength and recovery to President Biden and his loved ones,” he wrote on social media, part of a wave of messages crossing party lines.

Biden’s diagnosis throws a spotlight on a disease that hits hard. Prostate cancer’s the second-biggest cancer killer for American men, taking over 34,000 lives a year.

“If caught early, prostate cancer is highly treatable, but advanced cases like this are a different story,” Davies said, pushing the case for regular checkups, especially for older guys.

With Biden’s illness out in the open, it might nudge others to see a doctor, though time will tell.

Biden’s next steps aren’t clear, but the cancer’s reach into his bones complicates things. He’ll need intense care that could keep him out of the public eye.

He’s got family around him—Jill Biden, his kids, grandkids—as he gears up for treatment. “We’re praying for Joe and his family,” Trump’s post wrapped up, capturing a brief pause in the political fray. For now, all eyes are on Biden’s health, as a former president faces a serious medical challenge.