Former President Joe Biden Shares Health Update on Prostate Cancer
Former President Joe Biden recently provided a personal health update related to his ongoing fight against advanced prostate cancer, taking the opportunity of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to discuss the importance of early detection and medical screenings.
At 83 years old, Biden confirmed that the radiation therapy he underwent late last year “worked as intended,” allowing him to continue working on his presidential memoir.
This update follows encouraging news from his family, including former First Lady Jill Biden, who mentioned that recent medical scans showed promising results, with his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels now at zero.
Biden first revealed his diagnosis in May 2025, after experiencing urinary symptoms that led to the discovery of a nodule on his prostate. Medical assessments indicated that the cancer was aggressive, characterized by a Gleason score of 9, and had already metastasized to his bones.
Despite the aggressive nature of the diagnosis, doctors noted that the cancer was hormone-sensitive, which allowed for effective targeted therapies alongside several weeks of radiation treatment at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia.
Family members have acknowledged the physical challenges that come with managing advanced cancer. For instance, Biden’s son, Hunter, described the pain associated with the bone metastasis as a daily struggle. Yet, Biden remains focused on his advocacy efforts.
In his statement, he highlighted the lifesaving potential of proactive healthcare, urging men across America to address their hesitancy and to speak to their doctors about prostate cancer screenings.
Biden stressed that while average-risk men should start discussions around age 50, those in higher-risk categories, like Black men or individuals with a family history of the disease, should seek guidance even earlier.
“Every September we mark Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. This year it’s more personal for me.
More than 330,000 American men this year will hear the words we did last spring when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. By the time we found it, it had already spread to my bones. When prostate cancer is caught early, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100%. So have the conversation with your doctor. Don’t put it off.
If you’re at average risk, that conversation should start around 50, and the guidelines now recommend screening every 2 to 4 years. If you’re a Black man, start it at 45 or even earlier. You are nearly 70% more likely to get this disease and 2 to 4 times more likely to die from it. Which is frankly unacceptable in such a wealthy country.
If your father or brother had prostate cancer, you should talk to your doctor at 45 or even younger if there are multiple cases in your family.
I am deeply grateful to the medical professionals who have helped me manage this disease and continue to care for me. Their dedication and compassion mean a lot. The radiation treatment worked as planned, and I am still able to do things I enjoy, like finishing my memoir.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out or kept us in your prayers. We appreciate it deeply. My hope is that by sharing my experience, we can help save lives. Talk to your doctors. Ask the tough questions. Do it for yourself and for those who care about you.
And above all, keep the faith. God bless you,” Biden shared on social media.
