Former US President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread beyond his bones and is causing severe pain, his son Hunter Biden said in an emotional interview with the BBC.
Hunter Biden said the illness has become “very painful” and “very debilitating,” offering a fresh and deeply personal update on the 83-year-old former president’s health.
Speaking to the BBC’s “Newsnight,” Hunter Biden became emotional while discussing his father’s condition.
“The cancer has spread, metastasised into his bones and further,” Hunter Biden said, according to video of the interview posted online Friday. “It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many respects.”
He paused at times during the interview as he described the impact of watching his father battle the disease.
“Cancer is really hard,” Hunter Biden said, stopping to clear his throat. “It’s really sad to watch.”
Hunter also described Joe Biden as the centre of the family, calling him “the best father, the best husband, the best grandfather.”
“The only thing that I say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more,” Hunter said.
Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer
Joe Biden disclosed in May 2025, less than four months after leaving the White House, that he had been diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer.
At the time, his representatives said the cancer had already spread to his bones.
The diagnosis came after Biden had completed his presidency, during which his age and physical and mental health had been subjects of considerable public scrutiny.
A Biden spokesman said in October 2025 that the former president was undergoing radiation treatment and hormone therapy. His spokesman declined to comment Saturday on Hunter Biden’s latest interview.
Hunter says father remains politically engaged
Hunter Biden said his father remains politically engaged and determined to continue speaking publicly despite the progression of his illness.
Hunter has previously defended Joe Biden following questions about his physical condition, including criticism of his poor performance during the 2024 presidential debate.
He had argued that his father’s debate performance was partly the result of physical exhaustion after extensive travel.
Following Biden’s cancer diagnosis, Hunter also questioned whether the disease could already have been affecting his father at the time.
Biden’s health drew scrutiny during presidency
Joe Biden was the oldest person to win the US presidency when he was elected in 2020. His physical health and mental acuity became recurring subjects of public and political scrutiny throughout his presidency from 2021 to 2025.
Despite those concerns, Biden continued to maintain a public schedule after leaving office. In June, he attended the dedication of former President Barack Obama’s presidential library in Chicago.
Biden served as Obama’s vice president from 2009 to 2017 before winning the presidency in 2020.
The former president has largely remained out of the political spotlight compared with his time in office, but Hunter Biden said he remains engaged and wants to continue speaking publicly.
Biden’s continued public appearances come as he deals with the progression of prostate cancer and its effects on his health.
His presidential memoir is also scheduled to be released on November 17.
Family faces difficult health battle
Hunter Biden’s latest comments provide one of the clearest personal accounts of the former president’s condition since his cancer diagnosis was announced.
His description of the disease spreading beyond the bones and causing debilitating pain underscores the seriousness of Biden’s ongoing health battle.
The Biden family has largely kept details of his treatment private, and his spokesman declined to provide additional information following Hunter Biden’s interview.
For now, Hunter Biden says his father remains determined to stay engaged publicly despite the physical toll of the disease.
