Former U.S. President Joe Biden has entered a new phase in his medical treatment after revealing in May that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
His spokesperson confirmed that Biden is now undergoing radiation therapy and hormonal treatment, both part of a medical “treatment plan” established by his doctors.
According to the spokesperson, the radiation therapy is expected to last five weeks, marking a new step in managing his health condition. Biden has also begun taking a hormonal medication in pill form.
Biden, who turns 83 next month, “is doing well,” reports NBC News.
Last month, he also underwent Mohs surgery to treat a form of skin cancer and appeared in public with a bandage on his forehead.
When publicly disclosing his condition earlier this year, Biden said he had been diagnosed after visiting a doctor for urinary symptoms.
A statement from his team noted that he was suffering from a “more aggressive form of the disease,” but one that appeared to be hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management.
Prostate cancer is relatively common among men of Biden’s age, although many cases are of a milder type that only require monitoring.
Biden’s four-year presidency ended in January, when Donald Trump took office after defeating Kamala Harris, Biden’s intended successor.
His term concluded amid ongoing concerns over his physical and mental health, which peaked after a “disastrous televised debate” that ultimately forced him to withdraw from the presidential race, Sky News reports.
