Joe Biden
Former U.S. President Joe Biden is undergoing radiation therapy as part of his treatment for advanced prostate cancer, his spokesperson confirmed on Friday.
The 82-year-old former president is also receiving hormone therapy, though officials did not share additional details about his current health. According to sources close to the Biden family, his radiation treatment is expected to continue for about five weeks, marking a new stage in his care.
Back in May 2025, Biden’s office revealed that doctors had diagnosed him with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. The discovery came after he experienced urinary issues, leading physicians to detect a small nodule on his prostate.
At the time, medical reports showed that Biden’s cancer had a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) — a sign of high-grade, fast-growing cancer cells. Despite its seriousness, doctors noted the disease was hormone-sensitive, meaning treatments could help slow its progression.
> “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, it remains treatable through hormone-based therapy,” his office said in a statement earlier this year.
Biden, who left the White House in January 2025 as the oldest president in U.S. history, has long faced public questions about his health. His decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race came late in the campaign as he focused on his health and treatment. His former vice president, Kamala Harris, ultimately became the Democratic nominee but lost to Donald Trump, who returned to the presidency earlier this year.
A Lifelong Advocate for Cancer Research
Biden’s connection to cancer awareness is deeply personal. In 2022, he and First Lady Jill Biden relaunched the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, a national effort aimed at cutting cancer deaths by 50% within 25 years. The mission holds emotional weight for Biden, who lost his eldest son, Beau Biden, to brain cancer in 2015 — a loss that profoundly shaped his public service and advocacy.
Since leaving office, Biden has largely stepped back from public life, appearing occasionally for interviews and select events. In a May 2025 interview with the BBC, he reflected on his decision not to run for re-election, calling it “one of the toughest decisions” he’s ever made. Still, he said he remains focused on “family, faith, and continuing the fight against cancer.”
Understanding Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, second only to skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 13 out of every 100 men in the U.S. will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives, with age being the most significant risk factor.
When caught early, prostate cancer is highly treatable, but advanced cases — where it spreads beyond the prostate — often require a combination of radiation, hormone therapy, or chemotherapy to manage the disease.
As Biden begins this new phase of treatment, messages of support have poured in from across the political spectrum.
> “President Biden has always stood strong for others — now he’s showing that same strength for himself,” one longtime aide shared. “He’s facing this challenge with the same determination that’s defined his life.”