Joe Biden’s Stage 4 Prostate Cancer: What His Diagnosis Means and How Treatment Works

Joe Biden’s Diagnosis: The Details Behind Stage 4 Prostate Cancer

The news is out and it's heavy: Joe Biden, at age 82, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that’s advanced to stage 4 and spread to his bones. His office confirmed the cancer has a Gleason score of 9, which is as high as it gets — meaning the cancer cells look very abnormal and the disease is aggressive. The fact that it’s hormone-sensitive offers some hope, but there’s no denying this is a serious situation.

Doctors caught the cancer after Biden began showing more urinary symptoms — a hallmark of prostate issues — and found a nodule on his prostate during a medical checkup. While prostate cancer is incredibly common among men (statistics say one in eight will develop it), only a smaller group deals with it at such an advanced, metastatic stage. And for most, the risks go up as men get older. According to the CDC, age is the top risk factor, and Biden’s 82 years put him squarely in the higher-risk bracket.

What Stage 4 Actually Means and How It Changes the Game

Stage 4 means the cancer isn’t just in the prostate: it’s traveled well beyond, and in Biden’s case, is now lodged in his bones. Dr. Christopher Wee, who specializes in treating advanced prostate cancer, says the medical world doesn’t view stage 4 metaphase as curable anymore. That used to mean little hope, but there have been huge leaps in care. Hormone therapy, one of the main treatments, works by depriving the cancer of the testosterone it feeds on. That slows cancer growth for a while, often significantly extending lives. For an aggressive, yet hormone-sensitive cancer like Biden’s, this remains a crucial option.

Survival rates have improved, largely because of better detection and new therapies. Patients with advanced, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer typically live several years post-diagnosis — often four to five, sometimes longer. Every case is unique, especially for someone Biden’s age, so doctors tailor treatments based on overall health, how the body’s responding, and what side effects are manageable.

The medical team surrounding Biden is likely weighing a combination of hormone shots, new oral agents, and possibly chemotherapy or bone-targeting treatments if pain or weakness becomes an issue. The aim is to keep the cancer in check, manage symptoms, and maintain quality of life as much as possible.

The case is a stark reminder that prostate cancer can fly under the radar. Early stages are usually treatable and often curable — but once the cancer escapes the prostate, the job gets much tougher. The American Cancer Society numbers are sobering: 313,780 men are expected to be diagnosed next year, and 35,770 won’t survive it. Yet, high-profile patients like Biden turn a spotlight on the need for men to pay attention to urinary changes, get checked promptly, and not ignore early warning signs. Catching it early makes all the difference in outcomes.