Former US President Joe Biden has completed a course of radiation therapy for an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his spokesperson confirmed to CBS News. The 82-year-old was diagnosed in May with metastasised prostate cancer, which had spread to his bones, and began radiation treatment in October at the University of Pennsylvania's Radiation Oncology clinic.
Biden's daughter, Ashley Biden, shared an Instagram story showing her father ringing a bell at the clinic, a tradition symbolising the completion of a treatment phase. She wrote, 'Rung the bell! Thank you to the incredible doctors, nurses, and staff at Penn Medicine. We are so grateful!' In another post, she added, 'Dad has been so damn brave throughout his treatment. Grateful.'
Photos from Ashley also featured Biden with his wife, former first lady Jill Biden, and two of their grandchildren. The former president had previously undergone Mohs surgery in September to remove skin cancer lesions, according to his spokesperson Kelly Scully.
Prostate cancer affects about one in eight men during their lifetime. Biden's high-risk form had spread, complicating treatment. Concerns over his health were prominent during the 2024 campaign, leading to his withdrawal from the race three months before the election. Biden is due to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Edward M Kennedy Institute in Boston on Sunday.
