A Complete Health Update — Everything You Need to Know
Published: June 10, 2026
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
In May 2025, Biden's office announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer — specifically a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone. A Gleason score of 9 is near the maximum. It means the cancer is aggressive, fast-growing, and had already spread beyond the prostate before it was even found. NPR
The question that shocked millions: How long had he actually had it?
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a renowned oncologist and former member of Biden's own COVID-19 advisory board, told MSNBC's Morning Joe: "If you have prostate cancer that has spread to the bone, then he most certainly had it while he was President of the United States." aol
That single statement hit like a thunderbolt. A sitting president — making decisions for 330 million Americans — was battling Stage 4 cancer in the White House.
What Happened Next — A Full Timeline
Here is exactly how Biden's treatment unfolded, step by step: aol
- May 2025 — Diagnosis: Biden was diagnosed after reporting urinary symptoms. A nodule was found in his prostate and the cancer had already spread to his bones. Welcome.US
- May–June 2025 — Hormone Therapy Begins: Biden began hormone therapy in pill form. He spoke publicly at a Memorial Day event, saying the prognosis was good and he felt optimistic. aol
- September 2025 — Skin Cancer Surgery: Biden underwent Mohs surgery to remove skin cancer from his forehead. A large bandage was visible on his head in public appearances. His physician confirmed all cancerous tissue was successfully removed. Forumtogether
- October 2025 — Radiation Therapy: Biden began a five-week course of radiation therapy at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology in Philadelphia, combined with ongoing hormone treatment. NPR
- October 20, 2025 — He Rang the Bell: Biden completed his round of radiation therapy — and rang the bell at Penn Medicine to mark the milestone. His spokeswoman confirmed: "He rang the bell today." NPR
- Early 2026 — Back in Public: Biden returned to public life, giving speeches in South Carolina and Nebraska in February 2026 and making endorsements as recently as May 2026. aol
What His Family Is Saying
This is the part that stopped people cold.
In March 2026, former First Lady Jill Biden gave an interview to the Associated Press ahead of her new memoir. She said doctors told her husband he would "live out his natural life" — but that he will live with cancer for the rest of his life. PBS
Read that again. He will live with cancer for the rest of his life. There is no cure. There is only management.
Jill Biden's memoir, titled View from the East Wing, was released on June 2, 2026. It covers her four years as First Lady, including the final year in the White House when questions about her husband's health dominated the political conversation. PBS
What His Friends Are Actually Saying Behind Closed Doors
The official statements say one thing. The people closest to Biden say another.
According to the Washington Post, four friends who spoke with Biden in recent months said they had not received any formal updates about his health. Over the past several weeks, Biden had at times seemed more fatigued — something they attributed to the strain of managing his cancer and its treatment. Rolling Stone
No major health updates have been issued by his office since the cancer was revealed, heightening concerns among some allies about the long-term impact of the disease and treatment. Since his diagnosis, Biden has made only a handful of public appearances, attending select family events, ceremonial occasions, and private outings. ABC News
Aides say he is doing well. Close friends say they are worried. Those are two very different stories.
Where Things Stand Right Now — June 2026
As of May 2026 — one full year after his diagnosis — Biden continues public and private activities without any major new health crisis reported. Aides describe his condition as manageable. In public photos he appears stable — smiling at family events, speaking at occasions, engaging normally for an 83-year-old. However, some observers noted frailty and slower movement during his radiation treatment period. aol
The reality is this:
- He has Stage 4 prostate cancer that has spread to his bones
- He completed radiation and continues hormone therapy
- His cancer is not curable — it is being managed
- He will carry this diagnosis for the rest of his life
- He is 83 years old
The Bigger Question Nobody Is Asking Loudly Enough
If Biden had this cancer while serving as president — why did America not know?
Multiple oncologists told NBC News that given the nature of Biden's cancer and the fact that it had already metastasized, it was possible the condition had gone undiagnosed for years. Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer does not develop overnight. It spreads to bone over years — quietly, invisibly — until symptoms finally force a diagnosis. Forumtogether
The man holding the nuclear codes. The man signing legislation. The man standing at the debate podium in June 2024 — struggling to complete sentences.
The reality is only now fully setting in.
Bottom Line
Joe Biden is alive. He is active. He completed treatment and rang the bell. But he is 83, battling an incurable Stage 4 cancer, and the people closest to him are quietly worried. The official story and the private reality are not the same thing — and that gap is exactly what leaves so many people in shock.
Sources: Washington Post, CBS News, NBC News, PBS NewsHour, Fox News, Newsweek, The Hill — May 2025 through June 2026