Former US President Joe Biden is receiving radiation therapy and hormone treatment for prostate cancer, his spokesperson Kelly Scully confirmed on 11 Oct 2025.​
The radiation sessions started several weeks ago and are expected to last five weeks, according to sources familiar with the treatment.
Biden is being treated in Philadelphia.​
The Diagnosis
Biden’s post-presidential office announced in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had metastasised to his bones.
The diagnosis came after the 82-year-old reported experiencing urinary issues, which prompted medical professionals to discover a small nodule on his prostate.​
Biden’s cancer has a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), placing it in the most aggressive risk category. Gleason scores range from 6 to 10, with higher numbers indicating more aggressive forms of cancer.​
A Gleason score of 9 means the cancer cells look very different from normal prostate cells and are likely to grow and spread rapidly.
Treatment Plan
The former president is currently undergoing both radiation therapy and hormone treatment as part of his cancer management plan. Biden had already been taking hormone medication in pill form before starting radiation therapy.​
The cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management. Biden mentioned in May that his treatment involved “taking a pill, one particular pill, for the next six weeks and then another one”.​
A person close to Biden told CBS News that the former president is doing well and responding to treatment.​
Additional Health Concerns
Biden underwent Mohs surgery in September 2025 to remove cancerous skin lesions from his forehead.
His doctor stated in a memo that “all cancerous tissue was successfully removed” and no further treatment is required.
In February 2023, while still in office, Biden had a cancerous skin lesion removed from his chest during his annual physical. Further testing confirmed it was basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.
Future Public Engagements
Despite undergoing radiation therapy, Biden plans to maintain his schedule for upcoming public appearances. He is set to receive an achievement award at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston on 26 Oct 2025.​
Biden is also scheduled to speak at a fundraising dinner for the Nebraska Democratic Party in Omaha on 7 Nov 2025.​
Biden will turn 83 years old in November 2025. He completed his presidency in January 2025, making history as the oldest individual to hold the office.​
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