'It’s hard to be a caretaker': Jill details Biden's daily struggles with stage 4 prostate cancer

WASHINGTON, DC: Former first lady Dr Jill Biden revealed that her husband, former President Joe Biden, 83, is battling stage four prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.

Acknowledging the difficult reality, she shared, "It’s hard to be a caretaker," as she balances his ongoing medical treatments with his continued, though slower, public schedule.

How Jill Biden manages Joe Biden's care

Beyond the medical treatments, Jill highlighted the heavy responsibility of managing the former president's daily life, acknowledging that the role of a caregiver can be emotionally and physically demanding.

Even though her husband might prefer a different description, she remains the primary person overseeing his health, logistics, and well-being.

"I have to make sure he gets the right medications," she explained. "I'm the one talking to the doctors. I'm the one setting up the appointments. I'm the one to make sure that he eats well."

Describing the reality of his daily life, she said, "He keeps his schedule, but he’s slowed down." "I mean, stage four cancer is, and he's 83, so, I think the mix of everything and the medications that he's taken has made life a little more difficult these days."

The health concerns first became apparent while the Bidens were still in the White House, as Joe frequently woke up multiple times during the night to use the restroom.

Jill initially assumed his medical team was monitoring the situation, but after they left Washington in 2025 and the issue persisted, she urged him to see a urologist.

Following an appointment and a CAT scan, they were confronted with a reality they had not anticipated. "I never imagined it would be prostate cancer," she admitted. "I just never imagined it."

Jill Biden reflects on Hunter Biden's addiction battle

Meanwhile, in her memoir, Jill admitted that her family rarely spoke openly about addiction and acknowledged that they were, in some ways, in denial about what Hunter Biden was going through.

She said she struggled to understand how someone with a supportive family, a good education, and a successful career could become addicted. 

This was a time which Jill referred to as “really difficult for my family.”

The reason behind Hunter’s substance use came after the death of his brother, Beau Biden, who died due to brain cancer in 2015. Jill mentioned that Hunter has been free for some years now.

She regretted not addressing the matter publicly in the past. “I’m sorry that I didn’t talk about it a little bit more,” she added. By discussing this matter, she would be able to give hope to others who have gone through the same experience.  

Jill said she is proud of Hunter for turning his life around, building a career as an artist, and helping others who are recovering from addiction.

“And I hope that by talking about it more as I go forward, I hope that it offers other people hope,” she said. “It is such a tough, tough thing to deal with.” Hunter previously wrote about his struggles with alcohol and addiction in a memoir published in 2021.

Hunter Biden defends Jill Biden from criticism

On Wednesday, June 3, Hunter Biden came out in defense of his stepmother, Jill Biden, following a criticism of her memoir by CNN host Jake Tapper who went on to accuse her of understating the problem regarding Joe Biden’s health.

Tapper, whose views were aired in a video posted by CNN’s various social media handles, asked whether she really meant what she said about her husband stepping down if he couldn’t do the job and that if there were any indications of him having cognitive problems, White House aides wouldn’t let him stay in office.

These statements were described by Tapper as “very hard to believe, if not outright false,” adding that she was the “Queen of Omission.”

These statements are consistent with the views that Tapper has expressed before, such as his book titled, 'Original Sin: The Decline Of President Biden,' 'Its Cover-Up,' and 'His Disastrous Decision To Run Again' written in conjunction with Alex Thompson.

Hunter reacted through his X social media account, questioning why Tapper was attacking his family. "So let me get this straight. Jake Tapper is fixated on attacking my mom," Hunter tweeted.

He then pointed to several members of the Trump family, writing, “Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are building a private island paradise on Albanian protected land.”

He added, “Don Jr married the daughter of Epstein’s banker, and a startup his fund backs just got a record $620M Pentagon loan.”

Referring to Eric Trump, he wrote, “Eric Trump is taking an Israeli drone company public for $1.5B in the middle of a war with Iran that nobody wanted.” Hunter ended the post by addressing criticism frequently directed at him, writing, “And I know: ‘But what about your paintings, Hunter?’ Please.” 

The exchange comes as the Biden family continues to navigate life after the White House and Biden’s ongoing health challenges.