bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Reuters

Former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
Here is what you need to know about the disease.
Prostate cancer starts in the prostate, a small gland that produces semen fluid. It is the fourth most common cancer worldwide and the second most common among men, with 1.47 million new cases in 2022, according to the UK-based charity World Cancer Research Fund International.
Nations that reported the most cases were the United States, which accounted for 15.7 per cent of the total, followed by China at 9.1 per cent.

In the US, it is the most diagnosed cancer in men after skin cancer, and the second-leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer, with one in 44 dying from it. While it can be serious, most men diagnosed with it survive.
About one in eight men will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Most cases are classified as acinar adenocarcinomas, which usually grow slowly. That means some men can live for decades with it, without symptoms or needing treatment.
Some cases, like Biden’s, can be aggressive. Early diagnosis helps with survival rates.
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the US for 2025 are about 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer and about 35,770 deaths from prostate cancer.
The number of prostate cancers diagnosed in the US each year declined sharply from 2007 to 2014, coinciding with fewer men being screened because of changes in screening recommendations.

Since 2014, however, the incidence rate has increased by 3 per cent per year.
Researchers have found some factors that can affect prostate cancer risk: older age, ethnicity and family history.
Prostate cancer symptoms can include changes in urination, erectile dysfunction, blood in urine or semen, and in some cases, bone pain or fatigue.
Prostate cancer treatment varies by case and may include surgery, radiation, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted drugs.
When cancer spreads, it usually reaches the bones first. Bone metastasis can cause severe pain, fractures, spinal cord compression and dangerous calcium levels.

Managing these complications is crucial. While standard therapies help, additional treatments specifically target bone-related issues.
Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer with metastasis to the bone, and he and his family are reviewing treatment options, his office said.
Cancers that have spread, or metastasised, are considered stage four, the most advanced.
Biden’s office said that his cancer scored a nine out of 10 on the Gleason score grading system, at the top end of the system used to help determine the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.


From 1993 to 2022, the death rate dropped by half, thanks to early detection and better treatment. However, this decline has recently slowed as more cases are being found at advanced stages.
According to the World Health Organization, in 2022, prostate cancer caused 21,819 deaths in the United States in men over the age of 75.
Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.


The evolution of facial contouring: from Kim Kardashian’s comical ‘carved’ cheekbone selfies of the 2010s, to today’s subtler make-up and longer lasting bio-stimulating injectables

Why swimming is great for brain health as well as the body, especially as we get older

Style Edit: Discover Thai wellness rituals with Pañpuri, whose products draw on traditional modalities to offer uplifting fragrances that also balance body, mind and spirit

Morning rituals that rule: say goodbye to elaborate wellness routines with no basis in fact – these habits come complete with breathwork, meditation, movement and mindful matcha

Wellness

What is prostate cancer that Joe Biden has? 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with the disease

Former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer. One in every 44 American men dies from the disease. Photo: AFP

Prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide and the second most common among men. Photo: Shutterstock

Prostate cancer symptoms can include changes in urination, erectile dysfunction, blood in urine or semen, and in some cases, bone pain or fatigue. Photo: Shutterstock

Former US president Joe Biden at the Joint Base Myers-Henderson Hall in the US state of Virginia in 2025. Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer. Photo: AFP

Herpes virus study finds trigger for cold sore outbreaks that could lead to stopping them

Symptoms of oral herpes, which is caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), can include painful blisters (cold sores) or open sores (ulcers) in or around the mouth or lips. A new study has found that a protein in HSV-1 is required to activate the immune system and reawaken the virus when it is dormant. Photo: Shutterstock

Anna Cliffe of the University of Virginia School of Medicine was the study’s lead author. Photo: University of Virginia

Reeves Wong is manager at Hong Kong social enterprise My Place. Photo: Reeves Wong

Anti-viral medication can treat symptoms of genital herpes, shortening the outbreak. Illustration: Shutterstock

Symptoms of oral herpes can include painful blisters or open sores in or around the mouth or lips. Photo: Shutterstock

Movember 2021: prostate cancer survivors on overcoming the disease with the love of their wives and how life isn’t all about work

Prostate cancer survivor Chui Kui-fan and his wife Chui Liu Lin at a marriage enrichment event at the Hong Kong Cancer Fund’s North Point office, held jointly with Movember. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

The Chuis on their honeymoon in Guangzhou, China, in 1979. Photo: Courtesy of the Chui family

The Chuis in Hong Kong in 1994. Photo: Courtesy of the Chui family

Prostate cancer survivors and their wives with Hong Kong Cancer Fund prostate cancer project leader Tommy Liang (centre) at the marriage enrichment event in North Point. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong Cancer Fund’s Liang with the Chuis at the event. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

1 in 5 men dies before 65 – don’t be that guy. These Men’s Health Week tips, from taking your pulse to checking for lumps, could save your life

Why, when some men catch a cold, do they make it out to be something more serious than it is?  Photo: Shutterstock

Some men ignore symptoms of ill-health because they fear hearing bad news. Cultural norms are also a factor, a doctor says ahead of Men’s Health Week. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr. Johnathan Chow, doctor-in-charge of the men’s health service at the Hong Kong Family Planning Association. 

Men are encouraged to bring their partner with them for consultations. Photo: Shutterstock

If your middle measures more than 94cm (37 inches), you’re probably overweight and need to do something about it. Photo: Shutterstock

Erectile dysfunction is often a crucial indicator of something bigger and more serious. Photo: Shutterstock

Swollen, puffy face? You might have ‘moon face’. Experts explain, share how to reduce it

“Moon face” or “cortisol face”, a condition in which the face appears swollen and puffy, is a health concern that has been popping up online. Photo: Instagram/mamamiaaus

The most common cause of moon face is long-term use of corticosteroid medications. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Ex-US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer. What are disease’s symptoms, risks and treatment options?


Cancer

Disease

US Politics

Joe Biden

World Health Organization (WHO)

Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)


Explainer

Explainer | What is prostate cancer that Joe Biden has? 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with the disease

Ex-US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer. What are disease’s symptoms, risks and treatment options?