Joe Biden is opening up about the emotional reality of watching his father, former President Joe Biden, live with advanced prostate cancer, describing the experience as painful and difficult for the family.
In a recent interview with the BBC’s Newsnight, Hunter Biden spoke candidly about his 83-year-old father’s health and the impact his illness has had on those closest to him.
“Cancer is really hard,” Hunter said, describing it as “really sad to watch.”
Joe Biden’s Cancer Diagnosis
The Biden family announced in May 2025 that Joe Biden had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Doctors found that the disease had already spread to his bones, making it a Stage 4 diagnosis.
The family said at the time that Biden’s cancer had a Gleason score of 9, placing it in the highest grade group and indicating an aggressive disease. Doctors also determined that the cancer was hormone-sensitive, meaning treatment could be used to manage the condition.
Biden has since undergone treatments including radiation and hormone therapy. Reports from people close to the former president have indicated that treatment has been helping, although the illness has significantly affected his daily life.
Hunter Says His Father Rarely Complains
For Hunter, one of the most difficult aspects of watching his father battle cancer is seeing the pain and physical toll while Joe Biden continues to maintain his characteristic resilience.
Hunter said he sometimes wishes his father would complain more rather than attempt to remain strong for those around him.
Despite the seriousness of his illness, Biden remains an important center of the family, Hunter said, emphasizing the close bond among family members as they navigate the diagnosis.
The comments offer a more personal look at the former president’s health than the limited public updates he has generally provided since leaving office.
Jill Biden Also Offers Update
Former first lady Jill Biden has recently spoken publicly about her husband’s condition, saying he is “doing OK” while acknowledging that his cancer is likely something the family will have to manage for the rest of his life.
Jill has described the diagnosis as shocking, particularly because the cancer had already spread to Biden’s bones when it was discovered. She has also discussed the emotional challenges of living alongside a serious illness and the family’s previous experience with cancer.
The family has continued to emphasize that Biden is receiving ongoing medical care and monitoring.
A Family Coping With Another Serious Illness
Cancer has already had a profound impact on the Biden family. Joe and Jill Biden’s son Beau Biden died from brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46.
That history has made Joe Biden’s diagnosis particularly difficult for the family, with Hunter acknowledging the emotional weight of seeing another loved one face a serious cancer battle.
For Hunter, the experience is also deeply personal because of his relationship with his father. He has frequently spoken about Joe Biden’s role in helping him through some of the most difficult periods of his life.
Biden Keeps a Limited Public Schedule
Since leaving the White House, Biden has maintained a relatively limited public schedule as he undergoes treatment.
A recent report from The Washington Post said the former president’s world has narrowed considerably as his illness and treatment have affected his post presidential routine. People close to Biden have nevertheless described him as remaining engaged and in relatively good spirits during public appearances.
His office has previously said that treatment was going well, while family members have continued to provide occasional updates.
For Hunter Biden, however, the public descriptions of his father’s condition cannot capture the private reality of watching someone he loves deal with a serious illness.
His latest comments underline the human side of a diagnosis that has remained closely followed since it was first announced last year and the emotional burden carried by the family behind the headlines.
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