Hunter Biden Reveals Joe Biden’s Cancer Has Spread Further: ‘Very Painful and Debilitating’

Former U.S. President Joe Biden’s cancer has reportedly spread further, with his son, Hunter Biden, describing the former president’s condition as increasingly difficult and painful.

Hunter Biden made the disclosure during an interview with the BBC’s Newsnight programme on Friday, saying his 83-year-old father is battling cancer that has already spread to his bones.

“The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further,” Hunter Biden said, describing the illness as “very painful and very debilitating in many respects.”

He did not provide further details about where the cancer may have spread, while Biden’s office has not publicly disclosed additional information about the extent of the former president’s illness.

Biden’s Cancer Diagnosis

Joe Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis was first made public in May 2025. At the time, his office said he had prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9, classified as Grade Group 5, with metastasis to the bone.

Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, his office said the cancer appeared to be hormone-sensitive, a characteristic that can allow doctors to manage the disease through treatment.

Biden has also undergone treatment for other health concerns. His office said he had surgery in September 2025 to remove skin cancer lesions and completed radiation treatment for prostate cancer the following month.

His wife, Jill Biden, has previously acknowledged the long-term nature of her husband’s illness.

Speaking on the Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa podcast, she said the family understands that cancer will remain part of his life, describing the situation as a daily challenge.

Did Biden’s Health Affect His Presidency?

Hunter Biden was also asked about his father’s health and whether his battle with cancer may have affected his performance while he was still president.

The question was particularly significant because of Joe Biden’s widely criticised 2024 presidential debate against Donald Trump, after which concerns about his age and fitness intensified and he eventually ended his reelection campaign.

Hunter Biden acknowledged that watching his father struggle during the debate was “shocking.” However, he said the family did not know at the time that Biden had cancer.

He also rejected the suggestion that he could have controlled or influenced his father’s decisions.

Hunter Biden further said that Biden was not someone whose decisions could simply be taken away from him, stressing that his father had always made his own choices.

Biden Continues Public Engagement

Despite his illness and departure from the White House, Hunter Biden said his father remains active and committed to issues he considers important.

Joe Biden has continued to make occasional public appearances, including serving as a keynote speaker at the Maryland Democratic Party Gala in June.

“He’s still doing his thing,” Hunter Biden said, adding that his father continues to believe strongly in the United States.

“As long as he’s alive,” Hunter Biden added, “I promise you, he is going to continue to fight.”

Hunter Biden’s Legal History and Presidential Pardon

The interview also comes against the backdrop of Hunter Biden’s highly controversial legal history.

In June 2024, Hunter Biden was convicted on three federal felony charges relating to the purchase and possession of a firearm while addicted to a controlled substance. He later pleaded guilty to federal tax charges involving unpaid taxes.

In December 2024, then-President Joe Biden issued his son a presidential pardon covering the federal offenses. The decision generated significant controversy because Biden had previously indicated that he would not pardon his son.

The latest disclosure about Joe Biden’s health adds another chapter to the former president’s post-White House life, as his family continues to deal publicly with a serious cancer diagnosis.

For now, however, Hunter Biden’s comments provide the latest account of the progression of the illness, while further medical details have not been publicly released by Joe Biden’s office.