In a rare, deeply personal conversation, Hunter Biden has provided a stark and moving look at the physical toll exacted by his father’s advanced prostate cancer, revealing that former President Joe Biden is enduring severe daily pain as the disease progresses.
Speaking candidly during an interview with the BBC on Friday, Hunter reflected on the emotionally agonizing process of watching his 83-year-old father navigate the debilitating reality of bone metastases.
“The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further,” Hunter shared. “It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many respects. It’s really sad to watch.”
Yet, even as the physical suffering intensifies, the elder Biden has stubbornly maintained his characteristic resolve—a refusal to complain that his son admits is as frustrating as it is awe-inspiring.
“The only thing that I’d say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more,” Hunter confessed. “Because it’s not good.”
Despite the grueling physical hardship unfolding behind closed doors, Hunter emphasized that his father’s devotion to public life remains undiminished. “He’s still doing his thing,” Hunter said. “He so believes in this country.”
The Medical Reality Behind the Diagnosis
The public learned of Joe Biden’s condition in May 2025, after medical evaluations triggered by worsening urinary symptoms led doctors to discover a nodule on his prostate. Subsequent clinical testing confirmed a Gleason score of nine—the highest possible score on the grading scale, placing the tumor in Grade Group 5. This classification denotes an exceptionally aggressive form of prostate cancer that grows rapidly and carries a high likelihood of early metastasis.
At the time of his initial diagnosis, scans revealed the malignancy had already escaped the prostate gland and established itself in his bones.
Despite the daunting prognosis, the former president has insisted on maintaining a presence in the public eye. Earlier this summer, he made visible appearances at events across Maryland and Chicago, displaying a familiar, warm public demeanor that belied the severe physical strain detailed by his son.
The timeline of his illness has also raised quiet questions about early warning signs. Former First Lady Jill Biden recently disclosed that during their final months in the White House, she had repeatedly flagged subtle changes in her husband’s health to executive medical staff—notably that he was waking as many as seven times a night to use the restroom. Assuming military physicians were monitoring the issue, she expected a follow-up that never came.
Ultimately, the official cancer diagnosis was not made until months after the couple had transitioned out of office.
Understanding the Signs of Advanced Disease
Prostate cancer remains one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in men, yet its subtle onset often allows it to advance undetected in its earliest stages.
Medical experts emphasize that early warning signs typically involve changes in urinary patterns, such as a heightened urgency to urinate, difficulty starting a stream, or frequent nighttime waking.
When the disease transitions into an advanced or metastatic stage—frequently spreading to the skeletal system, as in Biden’s case—symptoms evolve significantly. Patients often experience persistent bone or back pain, debilitating fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. Healthcare providers stress that anyone experiencing these persistent symptoms should seek immediate medical evaluation, as early detection remains the single most critical factor in managing the disease.