Former President Joe Biden, 82, spent Friday evening hospitalized in Philadelphia after doctors discovered a “small nodule” on his prostate that required “further evaluation,” according to a spokesman.
Medical experts note that a “small nodule” could indicate various conditions—from benign lumps to more serious issues—and will require additional testing to determine the underlying cause. It is common for men of Biden’s age to experience prostate issues, though the former president’s spokesman declined to provide additional details about his care.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prostate cancer was the most common cancer diagnosed in men in 2021, with 236,659 new cases reported that year.
This hospital visit follows numerous health concerns during Biden’s time in office. In February 2023, Biden had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest, which was later confirmed as basal cell carcinoma.
“As expected, the biopsy confirmed that the small lesion was basal cell carcinoma,” White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor said at the time. “All cancerous tissue was successfully removed… No further treatment is required.”
Biden has a history of non-melanoma skin cancers that were removed with Mohs surgery before he entered office.
Despite these health challenges, Biden’s longtime doctor declared him “fit to serve” after a routine physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in February 2024, just months before he left office.
The former president has maintained a relatively low profile since leaving the White House in January, though he recently participated in two interviews following President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. The day before his hospital visit, Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden appeared on “The View” in Manhattan, where he defended his mental capabilities.
“They are wrong,” Biden said of reports on his mental health decline in office. “There’s nothing to sustain that.”
Throughout his presidency, Biden faced persistent questions about his advanced age and rapidly declining health, which ultimately culimated in a disasterous debate performance during his re-election campaign. Democratic Party leaders swiftly forced Biden to step down as the party’s presidential nominee last year.
Biden left office as the oldest serving president in American history, having turned 82 shortly after leaving the White House.