Joe Biden ‘Rings the Bell’ After Completing Radiation Treatment for Cancer

Joe Biden marked an important milestone this week as he completed his radiation treatments for cancer, celebrating the moment by ringing the ceremonial bell — a gesture of strength and hope for patients completing their therapy.

The former president’s daughter, Ashley Biden, shared the emotional moment on Instagram. Dressed in a blue suit and tie, Biden, 82, is seen ringing the bell while surrounded by applauding doctors and nurses.

“Rung the bell! Thank you to the incredible doctors, nurses, and staff at Penn Medicine. We are so grateful!” Ashley wrote. She also posted a photo of her father standing beside one of his physicians and another with Jill Biden and his grandchildren, Natalie and Robert “Hunter” Biden II, the children of his late son, Beau.

“Dad has been so damn brave throughout his treatment. Grateful,” she added.

The Meaning Behind “Ringing the Bell”

The bell-ringing tradition for cancer patients began in 1996 at the University of Texas’s MD Anderson Cancer Center. According to the center’s records, Rear Admiral Irve Le Moyne started the practice after completing radiation for head and neck cancer, promising to “ring the bell when the job was done.” He later donated his brass bell to the hospital, along with an inscription titled “Ringing Out”:

“Ring this bell
Three times well
Its toll to clearly say
My treatment’s done
This course is run
And I am on my way!”

Biden’s Diagnosis and Recovery

Biden’s personal office announced on May 18, 2025, that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. The statement noted that the disease appeared to be hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management.

ABC News later confirmed that Biden completed his radiation treatment on October 20, though it remains unclear whether additional therapy will be required.

In a July 2025 interview with podcaster Andrew Callaghan, Hunter Biden discussed his father’s health, revealing that the cancer had metastasized to his spinal cord.

“They can treat it, but it’s not curable,” he said. “The one thing about my dad is that he will never complain. Sometimes I wish he would… but he just keeps going.”

Continued Resilience and Support

In September 2025, Biden also underwent Mohs surgery for skin cancer, as confirmed by a spokesperson. The procedure followed reports showing Biden with a healing wound on his forehead after attending church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Hunter reflected on his father’s perseverance in the face of illness and loss. “My dad doesn’t go a day without leaving me a message by phone or text,” he said. “The lesson he learned from losing my mom and sister is that there comes a day when you can’t call that person again.”

He concluded: “All I know is this — I’m more proud to be my dad’s son than anything in my life. I truly mean that.”