Joe Biden Shares Heartbreaking Cancer Update Ahead of Memoir Release

Former President Joe Biden shared a heartbreaking health update ahead of the release of his upcoming memoir, revealing his promotional appearances will be limited as he continues to live with prostate cancer.

“While writing the book, I was diagnosed with cancer, a disease known all too well to millions of Americans and their families,” Biden wrote on X on Sunday (November 8). “My doctors continue to be encouraged by how I’ve responded to treatment. And the prayers and kind words and well wishes from so many of you have meant more to me and Jill and our family than you can ever know.”

Although he has responded well to the treatment, Biden admitted, “Some days are better than others,” though “It hasn’t stopped me.”

“But sometimes it slows me down,” he continued. “What that means is, unfortunately, I won’t be able to do as many conversations about my book as I’d hoped. However, I’m hopeful the words on the page speak for themselves.”

I want to share a brief update.

My presidential memoir, PROMISE ME, AMERICA, is coming out on November 17th. I hope you’ll read it. It covers my years as President. The challenges we faced, the decisions I made, and why I made them. It’s about who we are as a nation. What we stand for. And America’s role in the world. More than anything, it’s about my faith in the American people and the great American experiment in self-governance and democracy.

While writing the book, I was diagnosed with cancer, a disease known all too well to millions of Americans and their families. My doctors continue to be encouraged by how I’ve responded to treatment. And the prayers and kind words and well wishes from so many of you have meant more to me and Jill and our family than you can ever know.

Some days are better than others. It hasn’t stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down. What that means is, unfortunately, I won’t be able to do as many conversations about my book as I’d hoped. However, I’m hopeful the words on the page speak for themselves.

Looking forward, I’m going to keep following what my father told me a long time ago: “Champ, when you get knocked down, get up.” It’s a good lesson for me. And for America.

We are blessed. America is the most unique nation on earth. Unlike other countries, we’re built on an idea. An idea bigger than any ocean. More powerful than any army. Stronger than any tyrant or dictator. That idea? All of us are created equal.

Promise Me, America, we’ll never forget it.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 8, 2026

He added, “Looking forward, I’m going to keep following what my father told me a long time ago: ‘Champ, when you get knocked down, get up.’ It’s a good lesson for me. And for America.”

His memoir, Promise Me, America, is set for release on November 17 and covers his time in office. “I hope you’ll read it,” Biden wrote. “It covers my years as President. The challenges we faced, the decisions I made, and why I made them. It’s about who we are as a nation. What we stand for. And America’s role in the world.:

He continued, “More than anything, it’s about my faith in the American people and the great American experiment in self-governance and democracy.”

Biden’s latest update comes just a month after he shared a message for Prostate Awareness Month. In his post, the former president urged men to see their doctors early. “By the time we found it, it had already spread to my bones,” he said of his own diagnosis. “When prostate cancer is caught early, the five-year survival is close to 100%.”

“Their skill, dedication, and compassion mean so much,” he added. “The radiation treatment from last fall worked as intended, and I continue to do the things I care about, like finishing my memoir.”

Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, spoke about his dad’s condition when appearing on BBC Newsnight in August. “The only thing that I’ll say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more because it’s not good,” Hunter told host Paddy O’Connell.

He added, “The cancer has spread, it’s metastasized into his bones and further. It’s very painful, and it’s very debilitating in many respects, but he’s still out there.”