Biden says cancer treatment is slowing him as he promotes his memoir

In brief

• Joe Biden said on X that his prostate cancer treatment is slowing him down.
• He will hold fewer book events for his memoir Promise Me, America, due out November 17.
• Biden was diagnosed in May 2025 with aggressive prostate cancer that had spread to the bones.

Biden says illness is limiting his book tour

Former President Joe Biden said on X that his cancer treatment is slowing him down enough that he will not be able to do as many talks about his memoir as he had planned («Слова на страницах скажут сами за себя». Байден сообщил, что рак помешает ему продвигать свою книгу мемуаров – NV). The book, Promise Me, America, covers his years in office and is scheduled for release on November 17 (Байден посетовал, что онкология замедляет его и не дает осуществить планы – tvzvezda.ru).

Biden said he was diagnosed with the cancer while he was working on the book. He wrote that some days are better than others and that the illness has not stopped him, although it sometimes slows him. He added that he hopes the words in the book will speak for themselves.

Biden also said his doctors are pleased with how his body is responding to treatment.

Background on the diagnosis

In May 2025, Biden, then 82, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to the bones. Doctors said the tumor responds to hormone therapy, and Biden said he had started taking medication.

In the autumn, it was reported that Biden was undergoing radiation and hormone therapy and had had a Mohs surgery to remove skin cancer cells.

Pro-Kremlin outlet Zvezda, which is state-linked propaganda media, framed the post as Biden lamenting that cancer is slowing him and preventing his plans; it reported the same core facts about the book and the treatment. No independent source in this set adds further detail to that framing.