Former US President Joe Biden has completed one phase of radiation therapy as part of his prostate cancer treatment. His spokesperson gave this information on Monday. Biden aide Kelly Sculley said the former president was treated at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology Center in Philadelphia.
The 82-year-old Democratic leader stepped down in January this year. Six months earlier, he had withdrawn his re-election announcement after a bad debate session with Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Trump defeated Democratic candidate and then Vice President Kamala Harris amid concerns raised about age, health and mental capacity. Biden’s office said in May that he had prostate cancer, which has spread to the bones. The disease came to light when he complained of urinary symptoms.
The severity of prostate cancer is rated by the ‘Gleason score’, which ranges from six to ten. Scores of eight, nine, and ten indicate the most aggressive form. Biden’s office said his score is nine, which indicates a severe stage of the disease. Last month, Biden also had surgery to remove skin cancer lesions from his forehead.