Joe Biden’s public career has often overshadowed his private health struggles — many of them life-threatening. His long medical history stretches back to 1988, when a burst brain aneurysm nearly ended his life. A second aneurysm followed, along with pulmonary embolisms in 1989. Doctors once gave him less than a 50% chance of survival.

Over the years, Biden managed several chronic conditions, including atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea, and prostate issues. He also underwent surgeries for gallbladder removal and polyps, including one in 2021 labeled “potentially pre-cancerous.”

In 2022 and 2024, he contracted COVID-19 twice. Though symptoms were mild, they disrupted major political moments. In 2023, a skin lesion was diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma and treated successfully.

A major turning point came in 2024 during a presidential debate, where Biden appeared confused and disoriented. Days later, he withdrew from the race. By mid-2025, the most serious development came: metastatic prostate cancer had spread to his bones.

Though Biden remained resilient, his health remained a growing concern, with each new appearance prompting intense public scrutiny.