Joe Biden Opens Up About His Battle with Cancer and His Family’s Courage

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Joe Biden is expressing his gratitude.

Following the disclosure by the previous U.S. President’s personal office about his diagnosis with a “progressive type” of prostate cancer, Biden expressed gratitude for the overwhelming show of sympathy.

He posted on Instagram that cancer affects everyone, sharing a selfie with ex-First Lady Jill Biden on May 19th. Just like countless others, Jill and he have discovered their resilience in moments of pain. They express gratitude for the outpouring of love and support from you all.

Yesterday’s message from the 82-year-old was posted a day following an announcement by his office, stating that the cancer which he is battling has now affected his bones.

Last week, a new prostate growth was discovered in President Joe Biden following persistent urinary issues, as stated in a release on May 18. On Friday, he was confirmed to have prostate cancer, which includes a high Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) and the spread to his bones.

The disease seems to be a more advanced variant, but since it’s sensitive to hormones, we can effectively manage it. The President and his family are discussing potential treatments with his doctors.

A high Gleason score of 9 for the politician, as classified by the American Cancer Society, indicates that the cancer has a greater likelihood of growing or spreading rapidly compared to other cases.

After Biden’s health statement, politicians across the spectrum responded, including former President Donald Trump.

Melania Trump and I are disappointed to learn about Joe Biden’s recent health issue,” he posted on Truth Social. “We send our heartfelt and sincere well-wishes to Jill [Biden] and the entire family, hoping for a swift and complete recovery for Joe.

In a heartfelt message, former Vice President Kamala Harris (who was Biden’s running mate in 2020 and contested against Trump in the 2024 presidential election) expressed that she and her husband Doug Emhoff are holding the entire Biden family close in their thoughts and prayers during these challenging times.

On X, she emphasized that Joe possesses a fighting spirit. I am confident that he will tackle this hurdle with the same tenacity, grit, and positivity that has characterized his life and governance throughout. We remain optimistic for a swift and complete recuperation.

As a devoted observer with personal insights into battling cancer alongside a loved one, I too pondered over the recent developments.

In a poignant post, the daughter of John McCain, who lost his life to brain cancer in 2018, expressed her sentiments, saying ‘Cancer is undeniably hard.’ She empathized deeply, acknowledging that it presents a great challenge for any family anywhere. Sending healing wishes, prayers, light, and strength to President Biden and his family as they navigate this difficult journey.

While Biden’s family faces the challenges of his cancer fight, take a moment to explore the extensive network of his family history.

At age 30, Joe Biden tragically lost his first wife Neilia Hunter Biden and their 13-month-old daughter Naomi in a car accident in 1972. As a freshman senator, Biden devoted himself to raising his sons Beau and Hunter, setting aside romantic pursuits for the time being.

Frank Biden handed him Jill Jacobs’ phone number a few years ago, which was not in his possession before that time.

In his 2007 memoir, Promises to Keep, Joe expressed that finding love once more with the future first lady brought him a new lease on life. He conveyed that she helped him envision the possibility of his family being complete again.

Joe and Jill married on June 17, 1977.

Frequently, the president often refers to his deceased son, Beau Biden, who was previously an Army major and served as Delaware’s attorney general for two terms. Tragically, he passed away from glioblastoma in 2015 at just 46 years old.

In a conversation with the New York Times following the publication of his 2017 memoir “Promise Me, Dad”, Joe shared that Beau strictly adhered to a personal code of honor. Although this might seem unconventional, it was indeed accurate. Beau’s father used to say, “Never explain and never complain.” Remarkably, I never heard Beau voice any complaints, not even once.

In the final stages of Beau’s life, Joe reminisced about a particular night when he shared that Beau had confronted his own mortality. He observed how Beau endured the loss of his mother and sister. Instead of retreating into himself, Beau didn’t want Joe to lose hope in the vibrancy of life.

During his brother’s funeral tribute, Hunter shared the earliest memory he had of Beau. That was when they found themselves together in a hospital room in 1972, following the car accident that tragically took their mother and sister.

Or:

In his moving tribute for his brother at the funeral, Hunter reminisced about his very first memory with Beau which occurred in a hospital room in 1972, after the car crash that claimed their mom and sibling’s life.

On the eve of his inauguration in January 2020, Joe expressed his pride for hailing from Delaware at a National Guard/Army Reserve center bearing his son’s name.

He also expressed a sense of pride to be in this location carrying out this task at the Major Beau Biden center. Furthermore, I cannot help but feel a pang of regret – if only he were here, we would be proudly presenting him as our President.

In the year 2002, Beau tied the knot with Hallie Olivere (formerly known as Hallie Biden). This union resulted in the birth of their daughter, Natalie Naomi, in 2004 and their son, Robert Hunter II, in 2006.

In the aftermath of Beau’s passing, Joe chose not to contest for presidency in 2016. However, Ron Olivere, Hallie’s father, disclosed to Delaware’s News Journal that Joe sought counsel from his daughter before contemplating a presidential bid.

“Her response,” Ron said, “was, ‘Pop, we’re behind you all the way. We’re behind you 100 percent.'”

Natalie, at the age of 10 following her father’s passing, shared on TODAY before her grandfather’s inauguration in January 2020 that Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday. The reason being, they traditionally visit Nantucket where she, cousin Maisy, grandpa, uncle, and her dad used to participate in a Polar Bear plunge in November.

In the year 2023, she completed her education at St. Andrew’s School, which served as a filming location for parts of “Dead Poets Society,” situated in Middletown, Delaware. Subsequently, she chose to attend the University of Pennsylvania, an institution that holds a special place in her father’s educational history.

Natalie attended a May 2024 State Dinner for the president of Kenya with date Rafael Hajjar.

Hunter, the son of Beau and Hallie who bears his uncle’s name, maintains a fairly private lifestyle. However, he has made appearances at significant family milestones such as inaugurations.

During a CNN townhall hosted by Anderson Cooper in March 2020, Joe mentioned that Beau’s children resided close by in Delaware. With social distancing being essential at the time, we would often converse from our back porch while they sat on the lawn with two chairs, discussing their daily experiences, such as being away from school, who was causing them stress, and so forth.

In 2021, the president and his wife were present at the confirmation ceremony of their grandchild at St. Joseph on the Brandywine, a church the family has been affiliated with for a long time.

As I, a seasoned lifestyle expert, recount, I was Robert Hunter Biden who graced this world on the chilly day of February 4th, 1970. A Yale Law School alumnus, my life’s journey has been marked by moments of transparency regarding my fight against addiction and personal hurdles.

In June 2024, it was determined that he had committed three felonies: two for falsely declaring his drug use on a federal firearm background check form and one for illegally possessing a firearm while addicted to or using illegal drugs. Before his father’s pardon in December, he was facing a potential prison sentence of up to 25 years.

Hunter also pled guilty to tax-avoidance charges in September.

Despite being overshadowed by unfavorable news stories, Hunter rarely appeared at his father’s political rallies during the year 2020.

Hunter shared with The New Yorker in 2019 that he and Beau have been by his side since they were transported in baskets during his first campaign. They attended all major and minor events related to his political career, with Hunter never skipping a single rally for his father. The thought of not being beside him in Philadelphia, near the Rocky statue, is emotionally distressing for Hunter. It’s causing both pain for him and his father. His father keeps saying, “Be here,” and his mother echoes the same sentiment, but at what personal cost?

In August 2020, Hunter (who had spoken remotely during the Democratic National Convention when his father received the party’s nomination), appeared in person on November 7th at the victory speech given by the president-elect in Wilmington.

And despite his troubles, Hunter remains one of the president’s closest advisors.

In 1993, the individual who graduated from Yale Law School tied the knot with Kathleen Buhle. Together, they have three beautiful daughters: Naomi King Biden, born on December 23, 1993; Finnegan Biden, born on September 9, 2000; and Maisy Biden, who came into the world in 2001.

In 2015, the pair parted ways, with Kathleen pointing out drug addiction and infidelity as some of her husband’s flaws when she filed for divorce later on.

After the loss of his brother Beau, Hunter found himself in a relationship with his late brother’s widow, Hallie. In a statement made to Page Six when this news became public in March 2017, he shared, “Hallie and I are incredibly fortunate to have discovered the love and backing we have for each other during such a challenging period, and our bond has been evident to those who care about us deeply. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have family and friends who have stood by us throughout this journey.

The oldest child of the Hunter completed their undergraduate studies at Penn University first, followed by law school at Columbia. Currently, they are an associate at Arnold & Porter.

Since the world is quite compact, it turns out that Naomi and Tiffany Trump went to Penn University at the same time. Interestingly enough, both Donald Trump (who later became president) and Joe Biden attended their graduation ceremony in 2016. Additionally, Tiffany posted a picture of her and Naomi enjoying their time together in the Hamptons during the summer of 2018.

As a devoted admirer, let me share this heartwarming tale: My idol’s granddad, who graced two presidential terms as Vice President to the inspiring figure of Barack Obama, is always reachable by his grandchildren, no matter where or when they call.

In my role as a lifestyle expert, I recall sharing on PBS Newshour back in August 2020 that when he was delivering a speech on stage, I’d reach out to him, and his response would be something along the lines of, “What’s going on?!

For several months prior to their November 19, 2022 wedding on the South Lawn, Naomi and her future spouse, Peter Neal, resided with her grandparents at the White House as they prepared for their nuptials.

After her wedding, Naomi said to Vogue, “I make an effort to remember that it’s the White House, but eventually, it becomes commonplace.

On election day Nov. 5, Naomi announced she and her husband were expecting their first child. 

As a lifestyle expert, I might rephrase that statement like this: In our family, we chose to honor my father’s cherished grandmother by naming our newest addition to the family after her. We call her Catherine Eugenia “Jean” Finnegan, a name that carries the legacy of love and strength from generations past.

In 2021, she completed her studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and since then, she has been a regular attendee at several notable events in Washington D.C. and overseas, such as the April 2023 event where she was with grandma Jill for the coronation ceremony of King Charles III.

In the year 2023, the president and his spouse were present as Hunter and Kathleen’s youngest child received their graduation from the University of Pennsylvania.

Although Finnigan’s sister keeps her Instagram private, feel free to explore Maisie’s artworks and peeks into her life through her public account instead.

In my own style, I too appreciate a well-structured outfit. For my grandfather’s inauguration, I donned a dark jacket and trousers, complemented by Air Jordans. At the October 2023 White House State Dinner for the Australian Prime Minister, I opted for a Brooks Brothers pinstripe suit.

Back in May 2019, Hunter tied the knot with South African filmmaker Melissa Cohen in a ceremony held on a rooftop in Los Angeles, following a romantic courtship that lasted for several weeks.

As reported by The New Yorker, mere days following their initial date, Hunter got a tattoo saying “shalom” (a Hebrew greeting meaning hello, goodbye, and peace) inked on the inside of his left bicep to correspond with Melissa’s similar ink. A short while later, on May 15th, he popped the question.

The following day, she agreed, he purchased wedding rings and arranged for a wedding ceremony, which included hiring an officiant.

Hunter shared with the magazine that he phoned his father and announced their recent marriage. His dad was on speakerphone, and he expressed gratitude for providing Hunter the courage to love again. To Hunter, he said, “My dear, when I saw you finding love again, I knew I’d get you back.” In response, Hunter explained, “Dad, I’ve always had love, and the only thing that helped me recognize it was your unwavering faith in me and refusal to give up on me.

Hunter and Melissa welcomed son Joseph Robinette “Beau” Biden IV on March 28, 2020.

In the year 2019, Lunden Alexis Roberts filed a child support lawsuit against Hunter, claiming that he was the father of her daughter Navy, who had been born in August 2018.

Initially, he asserted he wasn’t involved in a romantic affair with Lunden. However, a DNA test result confirmed his fatherhood by January 2020, leading to an Arkansas court order acknowledging his paternity.

Later on, as reported by CNBC, the hunter consented to regularly make unspecified payments for child support.

Recognizing that he now has seven grandchildren for the first time, the president expressed through a statement to People, “Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are collaborating to nurture a connection beneficial to their daughter, aiming to maintain her privacy as much as feasible in the future.

He added, “This isn’t about politics; it’s a personal concern. Jill and I are simply aiming for the best interests of all our grandkids, including Navy.

On June 9, 1981, Joe and his partner Jill Biden joyously welcomed their sole shared child, Ashley Blazer Biden, into the world.

In 2010, a Tulane alumna earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. For over seven years, she served as the Associate Director at the Delaware Center for Justice.

2017 saw Ashley establish the clothing line, Livelihood. The logo, featuring the letters ‘LH’ crossed by an arrow, was a touching homage to her deceased brother, Beau.

Ashley told The Lily in June 2020 that sometimes we need a strong force to push us down before we can move ahead with momentum. She said her friend’s cancer was like that force, bringing her low and leaving her no choice but to press onward, continuing towards her own aspirations. In other words, the hardship made her realize she had to pick herself up and keep moving forward.

Joe expressed profound admiration for her during an interview with TopMob News upon her fashion week debut. He believes that ever since she was just three years old, she has been striving to transform the world, and he strongly feels that she will indeed achieve this goal.

Ashley revealed to TODAY that she intends to utilize her role as the first daughter to champion causes such as social justice, mental health, and community development and revitalization.

Regarding the harsh criticism aimed at her family members, particularly her father and brother Hunter, she expressed to Elle in 2023: “The true show of strength lies in maintaining kindness even as the world grows increasingly unkind.

She didn’t show anger, but instead, she stated, “It’s only natural for anyone to feel upset when someone they deeply care about is criticized.” She also mentioned, “There are many things circulating that are absolutely false and nonsensical.

Ashley came across her spouse, Dr. Howard (a specialist in plastic surgery, professor of ear, nose, and throat medicine, and the top medical executive at StartUp Health, a venture capital company), through their mutual acquaintance, Beau.

The doctor sought approval from his future father-in-law (who consented), and proposed to Ashley during sunset on a cliff in Big Sur, California. In June 2012, they got married in an interfaith ceremony that combined Catholic and Jewish traditions at the same church in Delaware where she had been baptized.

Speaking with People before his daughter’s wedding, Joe mused, “Wow, it seems like just yesterday she was little, and now time has flown by so fast,” but he also emphasized, “He’s the right man for her, and what a fortunate soul he is to have this wonderful woman.

Joe is the eldest among four siblings, and Valerie Biden Owens, his sister, has been a frequent presence on the election paths throughout his career. Remarkably, she has served as his most trusted political counselor for nearly five decades.

In the interview with Axios following his victory in the 2020 election, she stated that everyone knows him as an excellent speaker. In other words, here comes Biden, just like me at this moment, always chatting away. However, my brother listens even more attentively than he talks.

In a conversation about his future title upon becoming president, Valerie expressed that she would refer to him as “Joey” or simply “Joe”, hinting at a friendly and informal relationship. Similarly, if he addressed her as “First Sister”, she indicated that she would reciprocate with the formal title of “Mr. President”.

In a tweet on October 22, 2020, during the final stretch of the presidential campaign, Naomi stated: “To reach @JoeBiden, you’ll need to go through us first…We might not seem intimidating, but don’t forget our Nana is @DrBiden!

Later on, she posted a picture showing her oldest grandchildren embracing their grandfather after learning that he had successfully won the election on November 7, 2020 in the morning.

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2025-05-19 16:18