Biden undergoing radiation therapy as prostate cancer care enters new phase
Former President Joe Biden is undergoing a new phase of treatment for an aggressive form of cancer diagnosed in May, a spokesperson said Saturday.
“As part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, President Biden is currently undergoing radiation and hormone therapy,” the former president’s spokesperson said.
The radiation treatment is expected to last five weeks and marks a new milestone in his care, a close source told NBC News. He has already taken hormonal medication in pill form.
Last month, Biden, 82, also underwent skin cancer treatment known as Mohs surgery. A large bandage on his forehead was visible during public appearances around this time.
Following this procedure, her doctor wrote in a note that “all cancerous tissue was successfully removed” and “no further treatment is necessary.”
The former president announced in May that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had already metastasized to his bones.
His office said at the time that it was exploring several treatment options to ensure “effective management” of the disease.
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At the time, several oncologists told NBC News that given the nature of his cancer and the fact that it had already metastasized, it was possible that Biden’s affliction had not been diagnosed for years.
Men his age are not typically screened for prostate cancer, with the American Cancer Society recommending that men in their 50s and 60s get screened every two years. It is unclear whether Biden was screened for prostate cancer during his last physical in office, which took place last year.
The former president, who turns 83 next month, is doing “well.”
In 2023, while still in office, Biden had a skin lesion removed during a routine physical exam that was later found to be cancerous. A doctor at the time said no further treatment was needed.
Biden left the White House in January, just months after he suspended his re-election campaign last year, instead endorsing his running mate, Kamala Harris, for re-election.
His reelection campaign and the final months of his presidency were marred by allegations that he was too old to run again and was not mentally fit. The former president and his family have repeatedly denied the claims.
