Joe Biden Shares Cancer Update: "Treatment Worked as Intended" as He Urges Men to Get Screened

WASHINGTON – Former President Joe Biden shared a positive but measured update on his battle with Stage 4 prostate cancer on Tuesday, confirming that his radiation treatment from last fall was successful even as his son Hunter recently acknowledged the disease has spread further .

"I am deeply grateful to the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who helped to control my cancer and who continue to take such good care of me. Their skill, dedication, and compassion mean so much," Biden wrote on X . "The radiation treatment from last fall worked as intended, and I continue to do the things I care about, like finishing my memoir" .

Hunter Biden's Emotional Revelation

The update follows a deeply personal interview Hunter Biden gave to the BBC in late August, in which he revealed the painful reality of his father's condition .

"The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further," Hunter told the BBC . "It's very painful and it's very debilitating in many respects. It's really hard. It's really sad to watch" .

In a poignant moment, Hunter added: "The only thing that I'd say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more, because it's not good" .

The Diagnosis and Treatment

Biden revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025, just months after departing the Oval Office . The diagnosis was Stage 4, "aggressive," and had already spread to his bones . He received a Gleason score of 9, indicating both the cancer's aggressive nature and the potential that he had been living with it for years .

Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, vice provost and oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania, suggested Biden "probably had it at the start of his presidency in 2021" .

The former president began radiation and hormone treatment in October 2025, following surgery for skin cancer the previous month .

Jill Biden's Concern

First lady Jill Biden has also spoken candidly about her husband's condition. In an interview with NBC in June, she offered a sobering perspective: "I think if he had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer, that's one thing because that can be cured, but the fact that it metastasized to his bones, that makes it a whole different story" . "So I think Joe will live with cancer till the rest of his life" .

Earlier, she told hosts of ABC's "The View" that cancer has slowed him down . "He keeps his schedule, but he's slowed down," she said. "I mean, Stage 4 cancer is — and he's 83 — so, I think the mix of everything and the medications that he's taken has made life a little more difficult these days" .

A Public Appeal for Awareness

In his statement, Biden used the opportunity to urge other men not to delay conversations about screening . "Talk to your doctors. Ask the hard questions. Do it for yourself, and do it for the people who love you," he said. "Prostate cancer is common, but it is not inevitable. Early detection saves lives" .

Despite the grim prognosis, Biden has remained active, attending speaking engagements and working on his memoir, "Promise Me, America," which is expected to be released after the midterm elections . His message on Tuesday was one of resilience and advocacy: acknowledging the harsh reality of his condition while using his platform to encourage others to take their health seriously.