Biden's Cancer Spreads Beyond Bones, Hunter Says; 83-Year-Old in Pain

Former President Joe Biden's metastatic prostate cancer has spread beyond his bones and is causing significant pain, his son Hunter Biden told the BBC, the most detailed account of the 83-year-old's health since his diagnosis last year.

"The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further," Hunter Biden said in an interview broadcast Friday on BBC Newsnight. "It's very painful and it's very debilitating in many respects."

Biden was diagnosed in May 2025 with aggressive prostate cancer carrying a Gleason score of 9, Grade Group 5, already metastatic to bone. He completed a course of radiation at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology in Philadelphia in October 2025 alongside hormone treatment. The American Cancer Society estimates people diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer have a 37 percent chance of being alive five years later.

The disclosure comes as Biden prepares to release his memoir "Promise Me, America" on November 17, and raises questions about the former president's ability to maintain his public schedule. His office has not released a new medical assessment confirming the extent of the reported progression.

A spokesperson for the former president declined to comment Saturday on Hunter Biden's description, according to Reuters. Biden's medical team has not released a new public assessment explaining where else the cancer may have spread, how recently the progression was detected, or whether his treatment plan has changed.

What bone metastasis means

Metastatic prostate cancer occurs when cancer cells move beyond the prostate and establish tumors elsewhere in the body. The bones are among the most common sites for prostate cancer to spread. Bone metastases can produce persistent pain and may weaken affected bones, increasing the risk of fractures, spinal-cord compression and other serious complications.

The American Cancer Society says treatment for prostate cancer that has reached the bones may include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted medications, immunotherapy, external radiation and drugs intended to relieve pain or protect bone strength. Treatment and prognosis differ substantially from one patient to another. Hunter Biden's remarks do not provide enough medical information to determine the former president's current prognosis.

Biden's office initially described the disease as aggressive but hormone-sensitive, allowing doctors to manage it with treatments designed to deprive the cancer of hormones that help it grow. Biden said in May 2025 that he had begun taking medication, felt well and was working with specialists. His office later confirmed in October 2025 that he was receiving hormone treatment and radiation therapy.

A family shaped by cancer

The Biden family has lived through cancer before. Joe Biden's eldest son, Beau Biden, died from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in 2015 at age 46. Beau's death became a defining personal loss for the former president and helped shape his administration's support for cancer research through the Cancer Moonshot initiative.

Former First Lady Jill Biden said in an interview last week on Kelly Ripa's podcast that cancer is "constant, it's daily, and I think it's challenging." She has previously indicated that her husband may have to live with cancer for the remainder of his life.

Despite the illness, Hunter Biden said his father continues to participate in public life. Joe Biden attended the June dedication of former President Barack Obama's presidential library in Chicago and keynoted an event for Maryland Democrats in July. He did not attend the recent funeral for Sen. Lindsey Graham in Washington.

Biden was 78 when he took office in January 2021, making him the oldest person at the time to assume the American presidency. He served until January 2025. His age and physical condition received sustained scrutiny during his presidency, particularly after his June 2024 debate performance, after which he withdrew from the presidential race.

The public has not received a formal medical update confirming the full extent of the cancer's reported progression. Hunter Biden's statement indicates the disease has advanced beyond what was disclosed at diagnosis. It does not identify the additional parts of the body affected or establish whether the progression occurred before, during or after Biden's radiation treatment. Until Biden's doctors or personal office release more information, his present treatment, medical outlook and the precise extent of the cancer will remain private.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.