Fact Check | Viral Claims About Joe Biden’s Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Debunked

Claim:
Several viral posts on X (formerly Twitter), including those by Donald Trump Jr. and Dr. Steven Quay, claim that U.S. President Joe Biden is suffering from “Stage 5” metastatic cancer and that the diagnosis may have been hidden from the public throughout his presidency.

Fact:
False. There is no such thing as “Stage 5 cancer” in standard cancer staging systems. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with Grade Group 5 prostate cancer (Gleason score 9), a recognized but not concealed diagnosis. Claims about Jill Biden missing the diagnosis are misleading, and speculation that Biden has had cancer throughout his tenure is not backed by any credible evidence

What Is Being Shared?

On social media, misleading claims followed the announcement that former U.S. President Joe Biden, aged 82, had been diagnosed with aggressive metastatic prostate cancer. A post by Donald Trump Jr. read:

“What I want to know is how did Dr. Jill Biden miss stage five metastatic cancer or is this yet another coverup???”

This post alone reached 5.4 million people and had over 37,000 likes at the time of this report.

Another viral claim came from Dr. Steven Quay, who speculated Biden had been suffering from cancer during his presidency and that the American public was kept in the dark.

Understanding Cancer Staging: Is “Stage 5” Real?

No. “Stage 5 cancer” does not exist.
Cancer staging uses standardized systems like:

• TNM Classification (Tumor, Node, Metastasis): Stages range from I (1) to IV (4).
• Gleason Score (specific to prostate cancer): Ranges from 2 to 10 based on tumor cell structure.

Biden’s diagnosis — Gleason score 9, Grade Group 5 — means it is a very aggressive form of prostate cancer, not an imaginary “Stage 5”.

What Do We Know About Biden’s Diagnosis?

According to the statement from Biden’s personal office, the cancer had metastasized to the bone and was classified with a Gleason score of 9, indicating a Grade Group 5 cancer — a legitimate and medically accepted classification.

There is no evidence that the diagnosis was hidden from the public prior to this announcement.

Is Jill Biden a Medical Doctor?

No.
Jill Biden holds an EdD (Doctor of Education) and is not a physician. The claim that she missed diagnosing her husband’s cancer is misleading and unfounded. While she is an advocate for cancer education, she does not hold a medical license or practice medicine.

What About Dr. Steven Quay’s Claim?

Dr. Quay claimed:

“Prostate cancer is the easiest cancer to diagnose… It is highly likely he was carrying a diagnosis throughout his White House tenure…”

Prostate cancer is the easiest cancer to diagnose when it first starts and to watch it progress to bone metastases. The PSA blood test shows the rate of cancer cell growth. For even with the most aggressive form, it is a 5-7 year journey without treatment before it becomes…

— Dr Steven Quay (@quay_dr) May 18, 2025

While early-stage prostate cancer can sometimes be diagnosed during routine screenings, no public evidence supports the claim that Biden had cancer throughout his presidency and that it was intentionally hidden.

Claims without medical records or confirmation from Biden’s physicians remain speculative and unfounded.

Conclusion

The viral posts about Joe Biden’s cancer being “Stage 5” are factually incorrect — no such stage exists in clinical oncology. Additionally, there is no verifiable evidence that the diagnosis was known earlier and hidden. Claims involving Jill Biden’s role or responsibility are also misleading due to her non-medical academic background.