
Joe Biden has expressed gratitude for worldwide support, including a private letter from Britain’s King Charles, following his announcement of a cancer diagnosis.
“Cancer touches us all,” Biden shared on social media Monday. “Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us with love and support.”
On Sunday, Biden’s office revealed he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones.
“On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,” his office stated. “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.”
A Gleason score of nine classifies his illness as “high-grade,” indicating cancer cells could spread quickly, according to Cancer Research UK.
The diagnosis has prompted questions about how long Biden might have had cancer and whether it affected him during his presidency. Biden stated the diagnosis came Friday after he reported urinary symptoms, which led doctors to discover a small prostate nodule.
Many have offered support, including President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, and former Vice President Kamala Harris. King Charles, who is also receiving cancer treatment after his 2024 diagnosis, has written privately to Biden offering support and best wishes. Biden had previously expressed concern about the king’s health, saying: “I’m concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis. I’ll be talking to him, God willing.”
Vice President JD Vance offered well wishes but raised questions about Biden’s health during his presidency. “We really do need to be honest about whether the former president was capable of doing the job,” Vance said Monday. “You can separate the desire for him to have the right health outcome with a recognition that whether it was doctors or whether there were staffers around the former president, I don’t think he was able to do a good job for the American people.”
Vance added he blamed those around Biden more than Biden himself. “This is not child’s play, and we can pray for good health, but also recognize that if you’re not in good enough health to do the job, you shouldn’t be doing the job.”
The announcement comes amid criticism from a forthcoming book titled “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.” Details revealed last week include Biden reportedly not recognizing actor George Clooney at a fundraiser last year and discussions about putting him in a wheelchair. The book releases on Tuesday.
Nearly a year ago, Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race due to concerns about his health and age.
Be the first to leave a comment