Wamuzi News Ke
In a stunning announcement that has sent tremors through the political world, former U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage 4 prostate cancer that has already spread to his bones.
The diagnosis, confirmed on Friday after Biden reported troubling urinary symptoms, marks a grave turn for the ex-president. His office released the statement Sunday, igniting concern across the globe — including here in Kenya, where Biden has long held diplomatic ties and influence.
“This is a very aggressive cancer,” the statement read. “However, it’s hormone-sensitive, which offers a path forward in treatment.”But make no mistake — this is stage 4, the deadliest phase. Prostate cancer at this level means the disease has metastasised — a medical term for spreading — to other parts of the body. And once it reaches the bones, doctors warn it’s no longer curable, only manageable.
Kenyan oncologists following the case say the Gleason score of nine out of ten is an alarming indicator. “That’s as high-risk as it gets,” said one Nairobi-based cancer expert. According to U.S. health data, 70% of prostate cancers are usually caught early. Only 8% progress to this advanced stage — a grim category Biden now falls into.
Political Fallout and Emotional TributesThe news comes just months after Biden abruptly dropped out of the 2024 re-election race, following a faltering debate performance that sparked widespread doubts about his mental sharpness.
His age and health had been under scrutiny throughout his term, and now, this bombshell diagnosis adds fuel to the fire.Former President Donald Trump, his political rival, put aside their differences — at least momentarily — offering unexpected words of sympathy.
“Melania and I are saddened… We wish Joe a speedy and successful recovery,” Trump posted on Truth Social.Legacy, Loss, and a Fight AheadVice President Kamala Harris led a wave of bipartisan support, saying, “Joe is a fighter.”
Biden has already endured deep personal loss, including the death of his son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015 — a tragedy that deeply shaped his public service and personal mission.
In 2022, Biden resurrected Obama’s “Cancer Moonshot” initiative with an ambitious goal: cut cancer deaths by half within 25 years. Now, that very disease threatens his own life.Medical experts remain cautiously optimistic. “
Many men live five to ten years with bone-metastatic prostate cancer,” said Dr. Herbert Lepor of NYU Langone. “Treatments have come a long way.”
Silence and SpeculationSince leaving the White House, Biden has mostly stayed out of the spotlight, making limited appearances and denying claims of cognitive decline in interviews and recent books.
Just weeks ago, he told ABC’s The View, “They’re wrong.”But now, the silence has broken — with a diagnosis that may reshape how Americans and the world remember the Biden legacy.
Emmanuel Omurunga
