Jill Biden has spoken publicly about her fears for her husband, former US president Joe Biden, following his diagnosis with prostate cancer, which has spread to his bones.
Speaking on the Jaime Kern Lima Show, the former first lady said she was frightened by the possibility of losing her husband, but that the couple were trying to focus on the time they still have together.
“Of course I’m scared,” she said.
Ms Biden, 75, said she found it difficult to imagine life without her husband, who is almost a decade older than her.
“You just can’t let your thoughts go there,” she said, adding that part of dealing with the situation involved accepting that death was ultimately inevitable.
She said Mr Biden had remained “strong” and “steady” since receiving the diagnosis and had not spoken to her about his own fears.
“He was always the rock of our family,” she said.
Rather than allowing the illness to dominate their daily lives, Ms Biden said the couple had chosen to focus on spending meaningful time together and finding moments of happiness.
“Our approach is: Joe has cancer, he’s going to die, so let’s make the most of every moment,” she said.
“Let’s be together, let’s find things that make us happy. Let’s make this a positive journey.”
Mr Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year after doctors discovered that the disease had spread to his bones. His diagnosis came after he had left the White House following his presidency.
Ms Biden said that confronting the possibility of death every day was extremely difficult, but that the family was trying to remain positive while supporting him through his illness.
