Former President Joe Biden's prostate cancer has spread to other parts of his body and is causing him significant pain, his son Hunter Biden revealed during a recent interview.
Hunter Biden told the BBC in an interview that aired Friday that the cancer 'has spread, metastasized into his bones and further.' He described his father's condition as 'very painful' and 'very debilitating in many respects.'
'It's really sad to watch,' Hunter Biden said. '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.' Despite his poor health, Hunter Biden said his father continues attending speaking engagements.
Joe Biden revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025, shortly after leaving the Oval Office. At the time of that announcement, doctors had determined the cancer was Stage 4 and 'aggressive,' with a Gleason score of 9 — indicating both the aggressive nature of the disease and the likelihood it had been present for years.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican critics have pointed to questions raised during Joe Biden's presidency about his physical and mental fitness for office, particularly in light of his 2024 campaign against Donald Trump. Some conservative commentators argued that voters deserved more clarity about his condition during the election.
Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, an oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told the American Journal of Medical Care that Joe Biden 'probably had it at the start of his presidency in 2021.' He stated: 'He did not develop it in the last 100 to 200 days.'
Some Republican voices have called for more transparency about when exactly the cancer was discovered and whether it affected Joe Biden's ability to serve as president during his final years in office.
What the Left Is Saying
Supporters of Joe Biden have expressed sympathy and respect for his continued public engagement despite his diagnosis. Family members, including his wife Jill Biden, have noted that while he has slowed down, he maintains his schedule.
'He keeps his schedule, but he's slowed down,' Jill Biden said in a June interview on ABC's 'The View.' She acknowledged that dealing with Stage 4 cancer at age 83, combined with medications, 'has made life a little more difficult these days.'
Some progressive commentators have emphasized the privacy of the situation while noting Joe Biden's decades of public service. They point to his decision to share information about his health as an example of transparency.
What the Numbers Show
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9 is considered high-grade and among the most aggressive forms of the disease. Stage 4 diagnosis means the cancer has spread beyond the prostate to distant parts of the body.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States. The five-year survival rate for metastatic prostate cancer (Stage 4) varies depending on factors including age, overall health, and how well the cancer responds to treatment.
Joe Biden was born in 1942, making him 83 years old as of this reporting period. His diagnosis came approximately eight months after he left the White House following one term as president.
The Bottom Line
Hunter Biden's public comments provide new details about his father's ongoing battle with advanced prostate cancer. The former president has continued to make public appearances despite the diagnosis, though family members acknowledge his health challenges have affected his daily life.
Fox News Digital contacted the Office of Joe and Jill Biden for further comment but had not received a response as of publication time. The White House has referred inquiries about the former president's health to his family.
The disclosure comes more than a year after Joe Biden's initial diagnosis announcement and adds context to earlier observations from his wife about his reduced pace while managing treatment.