Jake Tapper on Biden’s Cancer Diagnosis: ‘Everybody Here at CNN Is Sending Out Our Thoughts and Prayers and Best Wishes to the Former First Family’

TAPPER: “Welcome to The Lead. I‘m Jake Tapper, and we‘re going to start today with our health lead and the tragic news of former President Joe Biden‘s prostate cancer diagnosis. Here‘s what we know. Last Monday, The New York Times was the first to report that President Biden visited a Philadelphia hospital the previous Friday, where ‘a small nodule’ was discovered on his prostate that required ‘further evaluation.’ A Biden spokesperson confirmed most of that to CNN, but would not elaborate on when or where the physical examination or future evaluation was conducted. Biden is 82. He‘s kept a relatively low profile since leaving office in January. Now, yesterday afternoon, Biden‘s personal office revealed that a prostate nodule was found after the former president experienced increasing urinary symptoms. The statement continues that last Friday, Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. The statement goes on to say that while this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management. CNN is told the Biden‘s treatment options include hormone therapy as well as chemotherapy and radiation. And obviously, everybody here at CNN is sending out our thoughts and prayers and best wishes to the former First Family. Today, Biden posted a picture of himself, his wife and a family cat with the message, ‘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.’ And as I said, the well wishes came quickly from national and world leaders, including Sunday on Truth Social, with President Trump posting, ‘Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden‘s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.’”