Former President Joe Biden is facing a difficult new chapter in his battle with advanced prostate cancer, with his son, Hunter Biden, offering a deeply personal account of the illness and its impact on the former president.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Hunter Biden said his father’s cancer has progressed beyond the bones and described the condition as extremely painful and “very debilitating.” His comments provide one of the most candid public updates yet on the former president’s health and underscore the seriousness of the disease he has been battling. (Reuters)
Biden’s prostate cancer was publicly disclosed in May 2025 after doctors discovered a prostate nodule following urinary symptoms. At the time, his office said the cancer was aggressive, with a Gleason score of 9, and had already metastasized to the bones. The cancer was also described as hormone-sensitive, meaning treatment options were available to help manage the disease. (NPR)
Since then, Biden has undergone treatment, including radiation and hormone therapy. Earlier reports indicated that he was responding to treatment, while continuing to participate in selected public events and pursue personal projects. (CBS News)
Hunter Biden’s latest remarks, however, provide a more sobering picture of what his father is experiencing away from the public spotlight.
Speaking about his father’s condition, Hunter emphasized the physical toll of the disease. He described watching the former president cope with significant pain as deeply difficult for the family. The comments also suggested that Biden does not always openly express the extent of his suffering, something Hunter said can be difficult for those closest to him to witness.
The disclosure comes as Biden, now 83, continues to live with a form of prostate cancer that has already spread beyond its original location. Medical experts have previously noted that metastatic prostate cancer is generally not considered curable, although modern treatments can sometimes control the disease and extend patients’ lives for significant periods. (The Washington Post)
The former president’s health has remained a subject of intense public interest, particularly because of his age and the health concerns that surrounded his final years in the White House. Biden’s decision to end his 2024 reelection campaign following a difficult debate performance further intensified public scrutiny over his physical and cognitive condition.
For his family, however, the issue is far more personal than political.
Hunter’s comments reveal the emotional strain of watching a parent confront a serious and progressive illness. The Biden family has faced devastating health challenges before, including the 2015 death of Joe Biden’s son Beau from brain cancer. That history has made the former president’s current battle especially painful for his family.
Despite the seriousness of his condition, Biden has continued to remain engaged in public life when possible. He has also been working on his memoir, “Promise Me, America,” and maintaining involvement in projects connected to his post-presidential life. (New York Post)
Hunter Biden’s latest disclosure now places renewed attention on the former president’s health and the reality of living with advanced cancer. While much of Biden’s medical treatment remains private, his son’s comments offer a rare glimpse into the challenges the former president and his family are facing behind closed doors.
For the Biden family, the fight is no longer simply a medical headline. It is an ongoing personal struggle—one that Hunter says has become increasingly painful and difficult to watch.
