Joe Biden has broken his silence following news that he has been diagnosed with cancer. The former US president posted a heartfelt message on X alongside a picture of himself, his wife, Jill, and their cat.

He wrote: "Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support." The message comes a day after Mr Biden's office confirmed the 82-year-old had been diagnosed with prostate cancer

The finding came after Mr Biden reported urinary symptoms, which led doctors to discover a nodule on his prostate. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.

His office said: “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management. "The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using what’s known as a Gleason score.

"The scores range from 6 to 10, with 8, 9 and 10 prostate cancers behaving more aggressively. Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.

When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often spreads to the bones.

Metastasised cancer is much harder to treat than localised cancer because it can be hard for drugs to reach all the tumors and completely root out the disease.

However, when prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden’s case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones.

Outcomes have improved in recent decades and patients can expect to live with metastatic prostate cancer for four or five years, said Dr Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center.

Dr Smith said: “It’s very treatable, but not curable. Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy.”

Posting on X, current President Donald Trump said: "Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis.

We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."

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