Former U.S. President Joe Biden has shared that he is “feeling good” and his “prognosis is good” following his prostate cancer diagnosis, marking his first public remarks on the matter.
After delivering a speech at Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle, Delaware, on Friday, Biden addressed reporters, expressing optimism about his recovery.
“The expectation is we’re going to beat this,” he said. “I’m feeling good.”
Biden’s office recently revealed that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones. Despite the seriousness of the condition, doctors have new treatment options available.
The diagnosis followed the appearance of urinary symptoms. According to his office, Biden and his family are currently consulting with medical professionals to determine the best course of treatment.
The former president noted that he has already begun treatment, which includes taking a specific medication.
“It’s just a matter of taking one pill for the next six weeks, followed by another,” he explained. “It hasn’t spread to any organs, my bones remain strong, so I’m feeling good.”
Biden made his comments during an annual Memorial Day event at Veterans Memorial Park in his home state of Delaware, near his residence in Wilmington. The ceremony also marked the 10th anniversary of the death of his son, Beau Biden.
His appearance comes amid renewed scrutiny over his mental and physical fitness, sparked by a recently released book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, which delves into concerns within the White House during his presidency.
Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race in July after a widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump, which intensified doubts within the Democratic Party about his candidacy.
When asked about his health on Friday, Biden smiled and made a slip of the tongue: “You can see I’m mentally incompetent and I can walk and I can beat the hell out of both of them,” he said.
Responding to Democrats who questioned his decision to seek re-election, he added: “Why didn’t they run against me then? Because I’d have beaten them.”
