Concerns over cancer fatigue are emerging as former President Joe Biden continues his battle with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Friends and aides offered mixed accounts of his condition, with some noting increased tiredness while others insist he remains active and engaged. The reports follow disclosures about the severity of his diagnosis and ongoing treatment.
According to The Washington Post, four friends who spoke with Biden in recent months said they had not received updates about his health. They observed that over several weeks he has appeared more fatigued, attributing the change to the strain of managing cancer and its treatment.
A fifth source told the outlet that Biden remains “encouraged and positive about his prognosis given his positive response to treatment.” Aides maintained that the 83-year-old is doing well, continuing work on his memoir and preparing for public appearances.
In 2025, Biden’s office announced he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bone — a condition medical experts consider “incurable.” The cancer received a Gleason score of 9, indicating one of the most aggressive forms.
On Oct. 11, 2025, his team confirmed he was undergoing radiation therapy at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology in Philadelphia after previously receiving hormone therapy. He completed radiation on Oct. 20, 2025, marking the occasion by ringing a ceremonial bell.
Despite the diagnosis, Biden has maintained a public schedule, including attending the funeral of Pope Francis in April 2025 and the funeral of former vice president Dick Cheney that November. He is scheduled to travel to South Carolina on Feb. 27 to mark the sixth anniversary of his primary victory there.
