Former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread further and is causing significant pain, his son Hunter Biden revealed in a BBC Newsnight interview that aired on August 8, 2026.
The disclosure represents the most detailed public update on the 83-year-old’s health since his May 2025 cancer announcement and confirms that the disease has advanced despite months of hormone therapy and a completed course of radiation treatment.
This article walks through what Hunter Biden said, the medical context behind Joe Biden’s original Gleason 9 diagnosis, the timeline of his treatment, the family’s response, and what the update means going forward. The goal is to give readers a single, respectful, factual resource that answers every reasonable question about this developing health story.
What Happened: The BBC Newsnight Interview
Hunter Biden sat for a wide-ranging BBC Newsnight interview that was broadcast late on Friday, August 8, 2026. During the conversation, he grew emotional discussing his father’s health. Hunter said the cancer had spread and metastasized into his father’s bones and further, describing the condition as very painful and very debilitating. He also said watching the decline had been very sad and that he wished his father would complain more, because his condition was not good.
Hunter did not specify where else the cancer had spread beyond the bones. The former president’s office has not publicly disclosed additional details about the extent of the disease since the original May 2025 announcement, and Hunter’s remarks are currently the most detailed public account of the progression.
Key Quotes From the Interview (Cited Briefly)
- On the disease itself: he said “The cancer has spread, is metastasized into his bones and further.”
- On his emotional response: he said watching it was really, really hard and really sad.
- On his father’s stoicism: he said he wished his father would complain more.
Background: Joe Biden’s Original May 2025 Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
To understand the current update, it helps to revisit the original diagnosis. On May 16, 2025, less than four months after leaving the White House, Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a small nodule was found in his prostate during a workup for increasing urinary symptoms. His office publicly announced the diagnosis on May 18, 2025.
The diagnosis included two specific details that shaped every subsequent conversation about his prognosis.
- Gleason score of 9. On the Gleason grading system, which ranges from 6 to 10 for cancerous tissue, a 9 is classified as Grade Group 5, the most severe category. It signals aggressive, high-risk disease.
- Metastasis to the bone. The cancer had already spread beyond the prostate to bone at the time of diagnosis, which categorises the disease as metastatic and typically corresponds to Stage 4.
The original statement described the disease as hormone-sensitive, which meant it was expected to respond to hormone therapy and could allow for effective management for a period of time. Biden responded to the news publicly on May 19, 2025, saying cancer touches everyone and thanking supporters for their kindness.
Who Is Joe Biden? A Brief Snapshot
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., 83, served as the 46th President of the United States from January 2021 to January 2025 and was the oldest person ever to hold the office. He previously served as the 47th Vice President under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years.
He is a longtime cancer advocate, having launched the Biden Cancer Initiative in 2017 after his eldest son Beau Biden died of glioblastoma in 2015. He is married to former First Lady Jill Biden.
Quick Fact Box
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. |
| Age (2026) | 83 |
| Diagnosis Date | 16 May 2025 |
| Public Announcement | 18 May 2025 |
| Cancer Type | Prostate cancer |
| Gleason Score | 9 (Grade Group 5) |
| Initial Spread | Metastasis to the bone |
| Treatment So Far | Hormone therapy; completed radiation therapy in Philadelphia |
| Latest Update (Aug 2026) | Hunter Biden says cancer has spread further and is painful |
Timeline of Joe Biden’s Cancer Story
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1980s | Biden survives a brain aneurysm. |
| 2015 | Son Beau Biden dies of glioblastoma at age 46. |
| 2017 | Bidens launch the Biden Cancer Initiative. |
| 2023 | Biden has a basal cell carcinoma skin lesion removed. |
| January 2025 | Biden leaves the White House at the end of his single term. |
| 16 May 2025 | Prostate cancer diagnosed after a nodule is found. |
| 18 May 2025 | Cancer diagnosis publicly announced. Gleason 9, metastasis to bone. |
| Summer 2025 | Hormone therapy begins. |
| September 2025 | Skin cancer lesions removed. |
| October 2025 | Completes a course of radiation therapy in Philadelphia. |
| 15 July 2026 | Biden shares a video update saying treatments are going well. |
| June 2026 | Jill Biden tells The View that things have slowed down for her husband. |
| Early August 2026 | Jill Biden discusses the diagnosis on Kelly Ripa’s podcast. |
| 8 August 2026 | Hunter Biden reveals on BBC Newsnight that the cancer has spread further. |
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What “Spread Further” Likely Means, Medically
While Hunter Biden did not specify where else the cancer had spread, medical context can help readers understand what the update signals in general terms. Metastatic prostate cancer most commonly spreads to bone first and, over time, can move to other sites such as the lymph nodes, lungs, or liver. Aggressive Gleason 9 disease is more likely to progress even during initial hormone therapy, a stage doctors describe as castration-resistant prostate cancer when it occurs.
At that stage, treatment options usually shift to newer hormonal agents, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and in some cases chemotherapy. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be approximately 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2025 and about 35,770 deaths, making it the most common non-skin cancer in American men.
This article is not medical advice and readers with personal concerns should consult a qualified oncologist or urologist. Biden’s specific care team has not publicly detailed his current regimen beyond the initial hormone and radiation approach.
Family Response: Hunter, Jill, and the Wider Biden Family
The public updates on Joe Biden’s health have come primarily from those closest to him. Former First Lady Jill Biden has been the most consistent public voice on the family’s experience. She appeared on The View in June 2026 to say her husband was still busy but that things had slowed down, and she recently spoke with Kelly Ripa on the podcast Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa about the disease being part of his life from now on.
Hunter Biden’s August 8, 2026 disclosure was the most direct family statement about the progression of the disease. The BBC interview also touched on wider topics, but the cancer update generated the largest global response. The Biden family’s collective advocacy on cancer research dates back to Beau Biden’s death from glioblastoma in 2015 and has continued through the Biden Cancer Initiative and the White House Cancer Moonshot.
Why This Matters: Reading the Story on Multiple Levels
This update matters on more than one level, and separating them helps readers understand the full picture.
As a family health story. The most important level is human. A former president in his 80s is facing an advanced, painful illness, and his family is publicly sharing the difficulty. That alone is worth understanding respectfully.
As a public health story. Biden’s diagnosis and its progression has brought renewed attention to prostate cancer screening, especially the debate over whether men over 70 should continue PSA testing. Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel of the University of Pennsylvania has publicly said Biden likely had the disease well before it was detected, which has fed into broader coverage of screening guidelines.
As a political and historical story. Biden was the oldest person ever to serve as U.S. President and left office under intense scrutiny about his health. Any new information about the state of his cancer is relevant to how history will assess that period. The current update does not answer that question, but it is now part of the record.
Public Reaction
Reaction to the BBC interview was rapid and largely respectful. Major U.S. outlets including CBS News, PBS NewsHour, Fox News, CNBC, and TIME magazine ran extensive coverage within hours. International outlets picked up the story overnight. Political figures across the spectrum offered public condolences and support, echoing similar reactions to the original May 2025 diagnosis.
On social media platforms including X, Instagram, and Facebook, users largely responded with well-wishes for the former president and his family, and with reflections on the toll of prostate cancer more broadly.
Interesting Facts You May Not Know
- Joe Biden survived a brain aneurysm in the late 1980s that nearly killed him.
- He had a basal cell carcinoma skin lesion removed in 2023, before his prostate cancer diagnosis.
- The Bidens’ 2017 TIME article launching the Biden Cancer Initiative described cancer as an adversary that “never surrenders.”
- Biden’s Gleason score of 9 falls into Grade Group 5, the highest and most aggressive tier.
- The current standard guidance from the American Urological Association generally does not recommend routine PSA screening for men over 70, a point Jill Biden has publicly cited when discussing why the disease was not caught earlier.
Historical Comparison: How Biden’s Situation Sits Alongside Other Presidents
Several U.S. presidents have faced serious cancer diagnoses. Ronald Reagan was treated for colon cancer during his presidency. Jimmy Carter was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma after leaving office in 2015 and lived for another nine years thanks to advances in immunotherapy before entering hospice in 2023 and passing away in December 2024.
Ulysses S. Grant famously wrote his memoirs while dying of throat cancer. Biden’s case is unusual in that it is being managed publicly in near real time by his family after his term ended, and it is one of the first high-profile presidential cancer battles playing out with modern hormonal and radiation treatment options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Hunter Biden say about Joe Biden’s cancer?
In a BBC Newsnight interview that aired on August 8, 2026, Hunter Biden said his father’s cancer had spread further, had metastasized into his bones, and was very painful and very debilitating. He also said watching his father’s condition was very sad.
When was Joe Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer?
Joe Biden was diagnosed on May 16, 2025 and the announcement was made publicly on May 18, 2025. He was 82 at the time.
What is Joe Biden’s Gleason score?
His Gleason score was 9, which falls into Grade Group 5, the most severe category of prostate cancer.
What treatments has Joe Biden had for prostate cancer?
He has been on hormone therapy since 2025 and completed a course of radiation therapy in Philadelphia in October 2025. He also had skin cancer lesions removed in September 2025.
Has Joe Biden’s cancer spread beyond his bones?
According to Hunter Biden’s August 8, 2026 remarks, the cancer has spread further beyond the bones, but neither Hunter nor Joe Biden’s office has publicly specified additional sites.
How old is Joe Biden now?
Joe Biden is 83 years old as of August 2026.
Is Joe Biden still active publicly?
Yes. Reports as recent as July 2026 indicate he continues to attend speaking engagements and is working on a memoir scheduled for release around the November 2026 midterm elections, though at a reduced pace.
What is metastatic prostate cancer?
It is prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate to other parts of the body, most often the bones. It is generally treated with hormone therapy, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or newer immunotherapies, depending on the case.
Where can I read more about prostate cancer signs and screening?
Authoritative resources include the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and major academic medical centers such as the University of Michigan Health, the University of Colorado Cancer Center, and the Mayo Clinic.
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Last Updated on August 12, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
