Full Breakdown
Joe Biden’s Prostate Cancer Spreads to Bones, Prompting New Health Update
8/12/2026, 1:03:41 AM
Core Event
Former President Joe Biden, 83, disclosed that his prostate cancer has metastasized to his bones and is causing significant pain. The update was given by his son Hunter Biden during a BBC interview on August 7.
Background & Context
Biden announced the diagnosis of an aggressive prostate cancer in May 2024, less than four months after leaving the White House. His office later reported a Gleason score of 9, placing the disease in Grade Group 5, the highest severity level. In September 2024 he underwent surgery for skin cancer, and in October 2024 he completed a course of radiation therapy for the prostate tumor.
Data & Statistics
- Age: 83 years old.
- Gleason score: 9 (Grade Group 5).
- Cancer spread: metastasis to bone tissue.
Official Statements & Responses
- Jill Biden, former first lady, said the diagnosis was “shocking” and noted that doctors had told the family men over 70 typically do not need routine PSA testing because the cancer is often slow-growing.
- The former president’s office confirmed the Gleason score and the recent radiation treatment.
- Biden is slated to publish a memoir titled *Promise Me, America* after the upcoming midterm elections.
Criticism & Opposition
Former President Donald Trump reacted to the original cancer announcement in May 2025, saying, “If you feel sorry for him, don’t feel so sorry, because he’s vicious,” and later adding, “I really don’t feel sorry for him.” These remarks illustrate the political opposition that has framed Biden’s health as a point of attack.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you feel sorry for him, don’t feel so sorry, because he’s vicious,” — Donald Trump, president
- “The one existential threat I think we face as a country is Donald Trump,” — Joe Biden, president
- “We’ve never had a flamboyantly corrupt leader like this,” — Tucker Carlson
- “The things that connect us are more important than the labels we put on each other,” — Joe Biden, president
- “Can you imagine Donald Trump having a thought about using the power of the executive to benefit anyone but himself first?” — Joe Biden, president
- “No-one has ever done it in a way where, literally, I believe that everything he has done contains not just an underlying current of ‘how does it benefit him personally’... it is the first thought of everything that he does.” — Carlson. Biden, president
What’s Next
The former president plans to release his memoir *Promise Me, America* after the November 2024 midterm elections, offering his personal perspective on his tenure and current health challenges.
