The Fourth Branch

Former President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, following medical evaluations at Mayo Clinic in May 2025.SourceAI reasoning: This information comes from initial medical reports and has been confirmed by multiple sources

The diagnosis emerged after Biden experienced increasing urinary symptoms, leading to a medical examination where doctors discovered a concerning nodule on his prostate.SourceAI reasoning: We are reporting these medical details as they are relevant to public awareness of prostate cancer symptoms

Medical tests revealed a Gleason score of 9, indicating a highly aggressive form of the cancer.SourceAI reasoning: The Gleason score is a standard medical measurement for prostate cancer severity

While the diagnosis is serious, doctors note that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which opens up more effective treatment options.SourceAI reasoning: This medical detail is crucial for understanding the treatment prospects

The former president's treatment will be centered at Mayo Clinic, where specialists are developing a comprehensive approach primarily focusing on hormone therapy.SourceAI reasoning: The treatment information comes directly from Mayo Clinic's official medical protocols

Medical experts, including Dr. Alan Tan from Vanderbilt, characterize this type of cancer as "bread-and-butter genitourinary oncology," suggesting established treatment protocols exist.SourceAI reasoning: This quote provides context about the standard nature of the treatment approach

Current data indicates that patients with similar diagnoses typically live 4-5 years with treatment, though some specialists suggest survival of 5-10 years is possible with newer therapeutic options.SourceAI reasoning: These statistics are based on current medical research but individual outcomes may vary

The diagnosis comes just months after Biden's last full physical examination in February 2024.SourceAI reasoning: This timeline detail helps understand the progression of events leading to the diagnosis

Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham explains that while this type of metastatic cancer is "very treatable," it is not curable.SourceAI reasoning: This medical opinion provides important context about the long-term outlook