Former first lady Jill Biden gave a personal update on former President Joe Biden’s health, saying he will live with stage 4 prostate cancer for the rest of his life while continuing to keep a public schedule.
Speaking during a conversation with political commentator and “The View” co-host Ana Navarro tied to her memoir, View From the East Wing, Jill Biden said the former president’s cancer has metastasized to his bones and requires ongoing treatment and medication. She said the diagnosis changed daily life for both of them, even as Biden continues to travel, attend events and make speeches.
According to Jill Biden, the health issue became more urgent after they left the White House in 2025. She said that while her husband was still president, she had noticed that he was getting up repeatedly during the night to use the bathroom. She assumed that, with a medical team around him, the issue would be followed up on. After leaving office, she said the symptoms continued, and she urged him to see a urologist.
At that first appointment, she said the doctor identified something concerning and ordered further testing. Jill Biden said she had not expected the diagnosis to be prostate cancer.
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She explained that prostate cancer can sometimes be cured, but said Joe Biden’s case is different because it is stage 4 and has spread to his bones. That means, she said, he will need to live with cancer permanently and remain on special medications.
The former president also underwent radiation treatment, which Jill Biden said required frequent travel between Delaware and Philadelphia for five weeks. She said the treatment and medication have taken a toll, especially given Biden’s age.
“He keeps his schedule, but he’s slowed down,” she said, noting that he is 83 and that stage 4 cancer, treatment and age together have made life more difficult.
Jill Biden also described the emotional and practical burden of being a caretaker. She said Joe Biden might not like her using that word, but explained that she is the one managing many of the daily details: medications, appointments, communication with doctors and making sure he eats properly.
Her comments offered one of the most direct public descriptions yet of how Biden’s diagnosis has affected the family after his presidency. Earlier in the week, she told the “Today” show that her husband is “doing OK,” adding that he continues to make speeches, travel by Amtrak and appear at public events. Still, she emphasized that he is dealing with stage 4 cancer.
The update also comes as Jill Biden continues promoting her memoir, which revisits some of the most difficult moments of the Biden presidency and the end of his 2024 campaign. During the conversation with Navarro, she said Joe Biden ultimately told her he had “no choice” when he decided to drop out of the race after his widely criticized debate performance.
She also said it was painful to watch Democrats, including longtime friends, publicly urge him to leave the race. Jill Biden said Joe Biden later reconciled with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, though she added that she herself has not spoken with Pelosi.
The former first lady also argued that there has been a double standard in how people discuss Joe Biden’s age and mental sharpness compared with President Donald Trump, who is nearing 80.
Despite the political context, the most personal part of the interview focused on Biden’s health and the couple’s daily life after the White House. Jill Biden portrayed her husband as still active and engaged, but also acknowledged that his diagnosis has changed what life looks like for them.
The former president’s condition will likely remain part of public discussion because he continues to appear at political and public events. But Jill Biden’s latest remarks also framed the issue as a family health challenge, not only a political story.
Her comments made clear that Biden’s cancer is not a short-term medical episode. It is now part of the former president’s life, and part of hers, as they navigate treatment, public appearances and private caregiving.
Why It Matters
Joe Biden remains a major figure in Democratic politics, so updates about his health continue to draw national attention. Jill Biden’s comments give the public a clearer picture of how serious the diagnosis is and how it has affected his daily life.
The story also matters because it highlights the private reality behind public political figures: illness, aging, caregiving and family responsibility continue after leaving office.
What Comes Next
Joe Biden is expected to continue making public appearances while receiving ongoing treatment and medication for stage 4 prostate cancer.
Jill Biden’s memoir and interviews will likely keep questions about Biden’s health, the end of his 2024 campaign and the family’s post-White House life in the news.
Jill Biden says former president will live with stage 4 cancer ‘for the rest of his life,’ has slowed down https://t.co/TFQLE8DJn6 pic.twitter.com/ghfzVLxBPD
— New York Post (@nypost) June 7, 2026
