Joe Biden Says Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer ‘Worked as Intended’

Former President Joe Biden shared a new update on his battle with prostate cancer Tuesday, saying the radiation treatment he underwent last fall “worked as intended.”

Biden, 83, revealed in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had already spread to his bones. His office said at the time that the cancer carried a Gleason score of 9 and was hormone-sensitive, allowing doctors to pursue treatment to manage the disease.

In a message marking Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Biden said the issue has become deeply personal since his diagnosis. He thanked the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who have treated him and said he remains active despite his condition.

“The radiation treatment from last fall worked as intended,” Biden said, adding that he continues doing things he cares about, including completing his upcoming memoir, “Promise Me, America.”

Biden used the update to encourage men to discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctors rather than waiting until symptoms become serious. He noted that prostate cancer has a dramatically higher survival rate when it is detected before spreading elsewhere in the body.

Biden’s diagnosis came after he experienced increasing urinary symptoms and doctors discovered a prostate nodule. By the time the cancer was detected, it had already metastasized to his bones.

His family has spoken publicly about the seriousness of the diagnosis. Hunter Biden said in August that the cancer had spread further and described his father’s condition as painful and debilitating. Jill Biden has also said her husband is expected to live with cancer for the remainder of his life.

Biden did not reveal whether additional treatment is planned. He said he hopes discussing his experience publicly will encourage other men to take screening seriously and speak with their doctors before putting off potentially important testing.