Former President Joe Biden's prostate cancer has spread to his bones and beyond, causing him debilitating pain, according to his son Hunter Biden.
The worsening health of the 83-year-old former president marks a deeply personal and public development for a leader whose physical stamina was a central focus of his final years in the White House.
WHAT HAPPENED
In a wide-ranging, emotional interview with the BBC's Newsnight broadcast on Friday, Hunter Biden revealed that his father's prostate cancer has metastasized. "The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further," Hunter told host Paddy O'Connell. He described the condition as "very painful" and "very debilitating in many respects," adding that it has been "really sad to watch" his father suffer.
Despite the severe physical toll, Hunter noted that the 83-year-old former president continues to speak out publicly on issues he cares about. "He's still doing his thing," Hunter said. "He so believes in this country."
The former president first disclosed his diagnosis in May 2025, less than four months after leaving office. At the time, his office announced that he was suffering from an aggressive, hormone-sensitive form of prostate cancer that had already begun spreading. By October 2025, spokespersons confirmed he was undergoing radiation and hormone therapy. Hunter's latest update is the first confirmation of how far the disease has progressed into his bones.
Key Facts of the Update:
- Diagnosis: Stage 4 prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bones and beyond.
- Current State: Described as "very painful" and "very debilitating," though the former president continues to make public statements.
- Timeline: Diagnosed in May 2025, followed by radiation and hormone therapy in late 2025.
- Age: Former President Joe Biden is 83 years old.
WHY IT MATTERS
This update is the most significant and sobering confirmation of Joe Biden's declining health since he left the presidency. For years, Biden's physical fitness and cognitive stamina were under intense public scrutiny, culminating in his decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race following a difficult debate performance against Donald Trump.
The revelation of his advanced cancer highlights the immense physical challenges he may have been quietly facing or developing toward the end of his term. For the American public, it brings a somber perspective to his final months in office and his subsequent retirement. It also underscores the heavy personal toll on the Biden family, who have previously faced devastating losses, including the death of Biden's eldest son, Beau, from brain cancer in 2015.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Former President Biden will likely continue receiving specialized medical care to manage his pain and slow the progression of the metastatic cancer. Because prostate cancer that has spread to the bones is generally treatable but not curable, the focus of his medical team is expected to remain on palliative treatments, hormone therapies, and pain management to maintain his quality of life.
Publicly, Biden is expected to continue his limited engagements and advocacy. He is also preparing to publish a memoir, Promise Me, America, which is scheduled for release after the upcoming mid-term elections. The book is expected to touch on his presidency, his family, and his ongoing health battle.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- What specific medical treatments is former President Biden currently undergoing to manage the pain and spread of the cancer?
- How will this diagnosis impact his planned public appearances and the promotion of his upcoming memoir?
- To what extent did his medical team or advisers know about the severity of his condition before he left the White House?
SOURCE NOTE
This story draws on reporting from the New York Post.