Hunter Biden Discloses Father’s Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Renewing Discussion on Disease Progression

Hunter Biden disclosed in a BBC Newsnight interview broadcast Friday that his father’s prostate cancer has advanced significantly since the initial diagnosis, with the disease now spreading to bone tissue. He characterized the condition as causing considerable pain and functional impairment, while expressing concern that the former president minimizes his symptoms rather than acknowledging their severity.

Biden, 83, first publicly announced his prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025 following the discovery of a small nodule during routine screening. His office noted at the time that while the cancer represented a more aggressive variant, it remained hormone-sensitive and amenable to treatment, with the family exploring therapeutic options in consultation with medical specialists.

The former president subsequently received hormone therapy and completed a course of radiation treatment at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology in Philadelphia in October 2025, according to his spokesperson. Treatment protocols for prostate cancer extend beyond radiation and hormone therapy to include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiopharmaceutical interventions.

Prostate cancer incidence has accelerated nationally, with the American Cancer Society reporting a 3 percent annual increase from 2014 through 2021, while advanced-stage cases rose approximately 5 percent yearly during the same period. Projections indicate roughly 333,830 new diagnoses will occur in 2026, with an estimated 36,320 deaths from the disease.

One in eight men faces a lifetime prostate cancer diagnosis, with prevalence increasing substantially after age 65—the age bracket accounting for six in 10 cases. The disease ranks second only to skin cancer among male malignancies, typically diagnosed at an average age of 67.

Early detection through routine screening often identifies the disease before symptoms manifest, though warning signs include urinary difficulties, weak urinary stream and hematuria. Advanced disease may produce hip, spinal or chest pain alongside erectile dysfunction, significant weight loss and lower-extremity weakness.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men aged 55 to 69 discuss screening benefits and risks with their physicians before deciding on prostate-specific antigen testing. Localized and regional prostate cancers demonstrate five-year survival rates exceeding 99 percent, though metastatic disease shows a 37 percent rate.