Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, his office confirmed in a statement released Sunday afternoon.

The announcement comes after weeks of growing speculation about his health and marks a sobering moment in American politics.

The diagnosis was made on Friday after doctors discovered a small nodule on Biden’s prostate during an examination prompted by increasing urinary symptoms. According to the official statement, the cancer was graded as a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), indicating a high-grade tumor.

While serious, the cancer is reportedly hormone-sensitive, a factor that opens the door to potentially effective treatment options.

Biden, 82, broke his silence on social media with a message of gratitude and resilience, posting on X: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”

Biden, who left office in January, had long faced questions about his age and fitness for another presidential term. His re-election campaign was ultimately abandoned after a widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump last June.