Former President Joe Biden, 82, is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment for an aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to statements from his spokesperson and confirmed by multiple news outlets including AP, CBS News, Fox News, POLITICO, and The New York Times. The treatment began in September 2025 and is expected to last several weeks, marking a new phase in Biden’s ongoing battle with the disease.
Biden’s diagnosis came in May 2025, just months after he left office in January following a tumultuous end to his reelection campaign. The cancer was identified as a highly aggressive, metastatic form, with a Gleason score of 9—placing it among the most dangerous categories for prostate cancer. As CBS News explains, the Gleason score is a grading system used to assess the aggressiveness of prostate cancer, with higher scores indicating more abnormal, rapidly spreading cells. Biden’s cancer had already spread to his bones by the time of diagnosis, earning it a Stage 4 classification.
Despite the seriousness of his condition, Biden’s team has expressed cautious optimism. His office noted that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which opens the door for effective management through treatments targeting hormone production. “As part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, President Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment,” spokesperson Kelly Scully told AP and POLITICO. A person close to Biden told CBS News that the former president is “doing well and responding to treatment.”
Biden’s treatment is being administered in Philadelphia, and according to sources familiar with his care, it began a few weeks prior to the public announcement in early October 2025. The regimen includes both radiation and hormone therapy, standard approaches for aggressive, metastatic prostate cancer. As Fox News reported, Biden had previously been monitored with routine scans before doctors detected a prostate nodule following urinary symptoms—a common early warning sign for the disease.
September 2025 brought another health challenge: Biden underwent Mohs surgery to remove cancerous skin lesions from his forehead, leaving a noticeable scar above his right eye. The procedure, detailed by Fox News and The New York Times, involves removing thin layers of skin until only cancer-free tissue remains. This wasn’t the first time Biden faced skin cancer—during his presidency in 2023, he had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a fact confirmed by his White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor.
Biden’s health has been a recurring theme throughout his public life. In 1988, he survived two life-threatening brain aneurysms while serving as a U.S. senator, an ordeal that doctors said gave him only a 50% chance of survival. More recently, concerns about his age and fitness became central issues in the 2024 presidential campaign. After a widely criticized debate performance against Republican Donald Trump, Biden ended his reelection bid in July 2024, paving the way for his vice president, Kamala Harris, to lead the Democratic ticket—a race ultimately won by Trump.
Despite the weight of his diagnosis, Biden and his family have projected resilience and positivity. In May, he confided to longtime friend and former Representative Bob Brady that “everything looks good” and that there was a clear plan for his treatment, as reported by POLITICO. His office emphasized that the hormone-sensitive nature of the cancer allows for effective management, a sentiment echoed by prostate cancer experts cited by The New York Times who note that men can live for several years with advanced forms of the disease.
Biden has not retreated from public life during his treatment. He is scheduled to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston on October 26, 2025, and to speak at a Democratic fundraiser in Omaha, Nebraska, on November 7. His spokesperson confirmed to The New York Times that he intends to keep these commitments, underscoring his determination to remain active despite his health challenges.
Support for Biden has crossed party lines. After his diagnosis became public, President Donald Trump, who had often clashed with Biden on the campaign trail, posted a message on Truth Social: “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.” Even Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, known for her sharp criticism of Biden, joined in expressing public support, according to POLITICO.
Biden’s personal battle with cancer has long shaped his public service. The death of his son Beau from brain cancer in 2015 profoundly affected him and motivated his commitment to cancer research. As president, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden revitalized the Cancer Moonshot initiative, aiming to cut the cancer death rate in half by 2047. The project has become a hallmark of his legacy, reflecting both his personal loss and his broader vision for public health.
On October 9, 2025, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson visited Biden at his Delaware home, sharing a game of chess and a conversation about the nation’s future. “Great to see President Biden, Dr. Biden, and their cat Willow today,” Ferguson posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Played chess against President Biden and discussed how we can move our country forward.” The visit, widely reported in the press, offered a glimpse of Biden’s continued engagement with political life and the support he draws from longtime friends and colleagues.
Meanwhile, the health of other political figures has also drawn attention. President Trump, now in his second term, recently underwent a routine physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. According to a memo from his physician, Navy Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, Trump “remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance.” The contrast in health narratives between the two presidents has not gone unnoticed, with each man’s medical updates followed closely by the public and the media.
Prostate cancer remains the second-most common cancer among men, with age being the primary risk factor, as noted by the Cleveland Clinic and referenced by CBS News. Treatments vary depending on the stage and aggressiveness of the disease, ranging from surgery and chemotherapy to radiation and hormone therapy—approaches now central to Biden’s care.
While the road ahead is uncertain, Biden’s story is one of perseverance in the face of daunting odds. His continued public presence, bipartisan support, and enduring commitment to cancer research underscore a legacy shaped by both personal struggle and public service.
