Here’s what was learned.
Former President Joe Biden is facing a painful new development in his battle with advanced prostate cancer, according to his son Hunter Biden, who has shared new details about his father’s condition.
During an interview with the BBC that aired Friday, Hunter said the former president’s cancer has spread into his bones and other areas of his body.
Hunter described the disease as extremely painful and said its effects have become physically debilitating for his father. He also acknowledged how difficult it has been for the Biden family to watch the former president deal with such a serious illness.
The update offers Americans a new look at Biden’s health more than a year after his prostate cancer diagnosis was publicly announced.
Hunter Biden Gives Emotional Update on His Father’s Cancer
Speaking about his father’s condition, Hunter said the cancer has continued to metastasize, including into Biden’s bones.
He explained that watching his father experience the effects of the disease has been deeply upsetting.
Hunter also suggested that Biden does not always openly acknowledge how much discomfort he is experiencing. He said he actually wishes his father would complain more about what he is going through rather than trying to push through the pain.
Despite those health challenges, Hunter said the former president has not completely withdrawn from public life.
Biden is reportedly continuing with selected speaking engagements and other activities even as he undergoes treatment and manages the effects of advanced cancer.
Joe Biden Announced Prostate Cancer Diagnosis in 2025
Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis became public in May 2025, several months after he left the White House.
At the time, his office revealed that doctors had discovered an aggressive form of the disease that had already spread to his bones.
Biden was given a Gleason score of 9, indicating a high-grade form of prostate cancer.
The Gleason scoring system helps medical professionals assess prostate cancer based on how abnormal the cancer cells appear under a microscope. Higher scores generally indicate a more aggressive form of the disease.
The announcement immediately generated national attention because of both the advanced nature of Biden’s cancer and his age.
Doctor Previously Raised Questions About Biden’s Cancer Timeline
Biden’s diagnosis also prompted questions about how long the cancer may have been developing before doctors discovered it.
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania, publicly offered his opinion that Biden may have been living with the disease while serving as president.
Emanuel suggested the cancer could have been present as far back as the beginning of Biden’s presidency in 2021.
Importantly, that was Emanuel’s medical assessment based on the publicly available information. It was not an official determination released by Biden’s physicians.
The controversy surrounding the timing of the diagnosis also sparked a broader discussion about prostate cancer screening and the use of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, testing.
Screening decisions can vary based on a patient’s age, medical history and individual risk factors, making the issue more complicated than simply determining whether someone received a particular test.
Jill Biden Says Former President Has “Slowed Down”
Former first lady Jill Biden has previously acknowledged that her husband’s health problems are affecting his everyday life.
During a June appearance on ABC’s “The View,” she said Biden was still maintaining a schedule but had noticeably slowed down.
Jill pointed to several factors, including his Stage 4 cancer, his age and the medications involved in his treatment.
At 83, Biden is dealing with the challenges of an advanced illness after spending more than half a century in American political life.
He entered the U.S. Senate in the 1970s, later served eight years as vice president under President Barack Obama and eventually became the 46th president of the United States.
Biden’s Health Remains in the National Spotlight
Biden’s age and health were major political issues during the final years of his presidency, particularly as questions mounted about whether he was physically and mentally capable of handling another four-year term.
Republicans frequently questioned Biden’s fitness for office, while Democrats and the White House pushed back against many of those concerns.
The political arguments surrounding Biden’s presidency remain significant. Conservatives continue to strongly disagree with many of the policies pursued during his administration, particularly on immigration, federal spending, energy, inflation and foreign policy.
His cancer diagnosis, however, represents a different and deeply personal challenge.
Regardless of political affiliation, advanced cancer is a serious ordeal for any patient and family.
Hunter Biden’s latest comments reveal that the former president is now dealing with significant physical difficulties even as he attempts to remain active.
For millions of Americans who watched Biden’s political career unfold over several decades — whether they supported his policies or strongly opposed them — the latest update represents a sobering development.
As Biden and his family navigate the months ahead, additional information about his health will likely draw considerable public attention.
For now, Hunter’s account makes one thing clear: the former president’s battle with cancer has become an increasingly difficult and painful part of his life.
