Joe Biden Undergoes Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Mon Oct 13 2025 17:18:23 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has begun radiation therapy as he battles an aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to his spokesman. The treatment is part of his ongoing care and follows a diagnosis that revealed the cancer's progression.

Joe Biden, at age 82, is currently receiving radiation therapy for prostate cancer, including hormone treatment, as his health becomes a topic of concern following performance issues and a prior diagnosis of a more aggressive cancer form. The former president's office reported the cancer's metastasis to his bones, prompting a new phase in his medical treatment. Since stepping out of the presidential race, Biden remains a prominent advocate for cancer research, emphasizing efforts to combat the disease.

Former US President Joe Biden is receiving radiation therapy as part of his treatment for prostate cancer, his spokesman has announced.

The spokesman confirmed that Biden, age 82, is also undergoing hormone treatment, although no additional details have been provided. The radiation therapy is expected to last five weeks and represents a new chapter in his medical care, as reported by NBC News.

In May, Biden's office revealed his diagnosis of a more aggressive form of prostate cancer, which had spread to his bones. This diagnosis followed his report of urinary symptoms that led physicians to discover a small nodule on his prostate.

The Biden office indicated that he had a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), identifying the cancer as high-grade with a higher likelihood of rapid spread. Despite the aggressive nature of the disease, doctors noted that it appears to be hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management.

Biden left office in January 2025 as the oldest serving US president, and health concerns have loomed over his term, culminating in his decision to refrain from seeking reelection late in his campaign. His former vice president, Kamala Harris, has since taken his place as the Democratic presidential candidate but lost to current President Donald Trump.

For many years, Biden has championed cancer research. In 2022, he and first lady Jill Biden revived the cancer moonshot initiative, aiming to harness research to prevent over four million cancer-related deaths by 2047. The issue is personally poignant for Biden, who lost his eldest son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015.

In recent months, Biden has withdrawn from the public eye. In a rare interview with the BBC earlier this year, he reflected on how challenging it was to decide to step down from the 2024 race.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, following skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 13 out of every 100 men will eventually develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, with age as the primary risk factor.