It’s aggressive. The cells have an ugly, disordered appearance under a microscope. Pathologists gave them a Gleason score of 9 (out of 10) for their likelihood to advance quickly. The cancer has already moved from Biden’s prostate to his bones, which means it cannot be cured — only controlled with drugs.

Biden’s team said Sunday that he was diagnosed with a “more aggressive form” of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. His tumor was “characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5),” meaning that it ranked highly on the grading system for prostate cancer.

President Joe Biden's "aggressive" prostate cancer has led to renewed interest in his health during his presidency