Former President Joe Biden has begun a course of radiation therapy as part of a broader treatment plan for an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office said Saturday. The announcement, confirmed by a spokesperson, said the treatment is being given in combination with hormone therapy.
Biden’s cancer was first disclosed publicly in May 2025 after doctors found a prostate nodule during a routine evaluation; testing at that time showed a Gleason score of 9 and evidence the disease had spread to his bones — a diagnosis medical teams described as an aggressive, but hormone-sensitive, form of prostate cancer.
A Biden aide, Kelly Scully, issued the statement confirming the new phase of care. Several news organizations report that the radiation portion of the regimen began in recent weeks and that the course is expected to last about five weeks; Biden has been receiving oral hormone therapy as part of his earlier treatment.
People close to Biden told reporters he is “doing well” and responding to treatment, and that the decision to add radiation follows consultations about the best way to control an aggressive tumor that has shown responsiveness to hormone medication. The former president, who will turn 83 next month, previously underwent Mohs surgery in September to remove skin cancer lesions.
Medical experts say that while metastatic prostate cancer is serious, many patients — particularly when the disease is hormone-sensitive — can be managed for extended periods with combinations of hormone therapy, radiation and other treatments; outcomes vary depending on the extent of spread, overall health and response to therapy. News organizations covering the announcement noted Biden’s optimism when he first disclosed the diagnosis in May.
Reactions from political figures and the public were still coming in as outlets published the news. News organizations that first reported the radiation treatment cited statements from Biden’s office and reporting by NBC News as the initial source of the update.
We will be monitoring official updates from Biden’s office for details on his treatment schedule and any public appearances. Medical experts and patient-advocacy groups are also likely to provide context on prognosis and treatment advances for metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
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