Hunter Biden says illness has spread further, describing condition as “very painful” and debilitating

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former United States President Joe Biden is facing a worsening health battle as his prostate cancer has spread further and is causing significant pain, according to his son, Hunter Biden.

In an emotional interview with the BBC’s Newsnight, Hunter disclosed that the disease has advanced beyond earlier reports, describing his father’s condition as “very painful” and “very debilitating in many respects.” The remarks, captured in a video shared online, offer one of the most candid public updates on the former president’s health since his diagnosis was first announced.

“The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further,” Hunter Biden said, underscoring the seriousness of the illness.

A spokesperson for the 83-year-old Democrat declined to comment on the interview when contacted on Saturday, maintaining the family’s recent silence regarding his condition.

Biden first revealed in May 2025—just months after leaving office—that he had been diagnosed with what he described as an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer. At the time, he confirmed that the disease had already spread to his bones, raising concerns among supporters and political observers alike.

Later updates in October 2025 indicated that the former president had begun a course of radiation treatment alongside hormone therapy, a standard approach aimed at slowing the progression of advanced prostate cancer and managing symptoms.

Known for his decades-long career in public service, Biden made history as the oldest person elected U.S. president when he won the 2020 election. He served a single term from January 2021 to January 2025, after previously spending eight years as vice president under Barack Obama.

While the family has largely kept details of his ongoing treatment private, Hunter Biden’s latest comments paint a more personal picture of the toll the illness is taking—not only medically, but emotionally.

The update has prompted renewed concern and sympathy from across the political spectrum, with many Americans and global observers reflecting on Biden’s long public life and current health struggles.