FORMER U.S. President Joe Biden has thanked the public for their outpouring of goodwill after his recent cancer diagnosis was made public.
The 82-year-old shared his thoughts in a post on the social media platform X on Monday, stating, “Cancer touches us all.”
He reflected on the strength he and his wife, Jill Biden, have drawn from difficult times, much like countless others facing similar challenges.
“Thank you for lifting us with love and support,” he added, alongside a photo of himself smiling beside his wife, who held a cat in her arms.
Biden’s office confirmed on Sunday that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive and advanced form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones. However, they emphasized that the condition is manageable.
Following the announcement, several prominent figures, including former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama, as well as former First Lady Michelle Obama, extended their wishes for Biden’s swift recovery.
Obama, under whom Biden served as vice president from 2009 to 2017, expressed confidence in Biden’s resilience, writing on X: “I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.”
He also commended Biden’s longstanding dedication to advancing cancer research, noting, “Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe.”
As vice president, Biden spearheaded the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative in 2016, a comprehensive federal effort to accelerate cancer research and treatment development.
This is not the first-time cancer has affected Biden’s family. In 2015, his eldest son, Beau Biden, passed away at age 46 after battling a brain tumour — a loss Biden has frequently referenced in public remarks. (dpa/NAN)
