Hunter Biden says President Joe Biden's cancer has spread

Hunter Biden says his father, US President Joe Biden, has advanced prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, calling the illness “very painful” and “very debilitating.” The 82-year-old leader disclosed the diagnosis in May 2025 after an aggressive tumor was found during routine screening. His son revealed the metastasis in a social media post on Tuesday, confirming doctors have detected cancer in multiple skeletal sites. The news intensifies concerns about Biden’s health just two years after he survived a separate cancer scare.

Prostate cancer rarely spreads this fast unless it was already at an advanced stage when first detected. Biden’s team has kept details private, but experts note that aggressive forms can progress quickly without early treatment. The president suspended public appearances for two weeks in May for a “precautionary” medical procedure, fueling speculation. Political opponents have already raised questions about his fitness to run again in 2028, though no formal decision has been announced. The White House has not commented on Hunter’s statement, which came without direct confirmation from medical officials.

Doctors typically treat metastatic prostate cancer with hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or radiation to ease pain and slow growth. Survival rates drop sharply once bones are involved, though newer drugs like abiraterone and enzalutamide have improved outlook. Biden’s age and history of arterial plaque raise risks from long-term treatment. His schedule has been trimmed, with fewer overnight trips and more teleconferences. Family sources say he is determined to continue working, but the physical strain is taking a toll.

If Biden’s condition worsens, the Democratic Party would face pressure to find an alternative nominee. His vice president, Kamala Harris, would become the likely successor, though she lacks broad grassroots support. Republicans have already signaled they will use the news to question his capacity, while allies insist he remains sharp. The revelation also shifts focus to the first family’s privacy, after years of scrutiny over Hunter’s own legal and health struggles. The coming weeks will show how aggressively Biden pursues treatment and whether he adjusts his public role.