Former President Joe Biden has shared a candid update on his ongoing battle with prostate cancer, acknowledging the physical toll while expressing determination and gratitude. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on November 8, 2026, the 83-year-old wrote that “some days are better than others.” The illness has not stopped him, he said, but it sometimes slows him down—enough that he will limit promotional conversations for his forthcoming presidential memoir, Promise Me, America, scheduled for release on November 17.
Biden’s message comes as he approaches his 84th birthday on November 20 and offers a window into life with advanced disease more than a year and a half after his diagnosis. Doctors remain encouraged by his response to treatment, he noted, and the public’s prayers and well-wishes have meant a great deal to him, First Lady Jill Biden, and their family.
The Diagnosis and Its Context
Biden announced the diagnosis in May 2025, roughly four months after leaving the White House. He had experienced increasing urinary symptoms. Doctors found a nodule on his prostate and determined he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) that had already metastasized to the bone—stage 4 disease. The cancer was described as hormone-sensitive, which opened pathways for effective management.
Prostate cancer grading relies on how abnormal the cells appear under a microscope. Higher Gleason scores indicate more aggressive behavior. A score of 9 places the disease in a high-risk category. Metastasis to bone further elevates the challenge, as the cancer is no longer confined to the prostate. Hormone therapy aims to slow or stop the cancer’s growth by reducing testosterone levels that fuel many prostate cancers, while radiation targets remaining disease.
Biden completed a course of radiation therapy in October 2025 at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology in Philadelphia and “rang the bell,” a traditional marker for finishing a treatment cycle. That does not mean the cancer is gone; rather, it signals the end of that particular regimen. He continues hormone therapy and takes multiple medications daily, with regular monitoring.
In September 2026, during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Biden said the radiation “worked as intended” and that he continued doing the things that matter to him, including finishing his memoir. He urged men not to delay conversations with their doctors about screening, noting that early detection dramatically improves outcomes—five-year survival approaches 100 percent when the disease is caught early. He highlighted higher risk for Black men and those with family history.
Living with the Disease: Family Insights and Daily Reality
Family members have offered additional perspective. In August 2026, Hunter Biden told the BBC that the cancer had spread “into his bones and further,” describing it as very painful and debilitating in many respects. He expressed sadness at watching his father and wished he would complain more. Jill Biden has said her husband is “doing okay” but will live with the cancer for the rest of his life, requiring ongoing testing and medicines every few months. The disease’s impact on energy and stamina is real.
A recent exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine, conducted at the Bidens’ home in Wilmington, Delaware, provides further detail. Biden spoke about living with stage 4 disease, the daily realities of treatment (including multiple pills), and the slower pace compared with earlier years. Jill Biden described the support from family and the adjustments required. The conversation also touched on reflections from the memoir, his decision to withdraw from the 2024 race, and the legacy he hopes to leave.
Cancer has long been part of the Biden family’s story. Their son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46. That history adds emotional weight to the current fight.
The Memoir and Scaled-Back Promotion
Promise Me, America covers Biden’s four years in the White House (2021–2025): the challenges the administration faced, the decisions made and the reasons behind them, and his enduring faith in the American people and the democratic experiment. He has described it as a book about who Americans are as a nation and the country’s role in the world. Rights to the book reportedly sold for a substantial sum, reflecting strong commercial interest.
In his November update, Biden linked the cancer diagnosis directly to the writing process: “While writing the book, I was diagnosed with cancer, a disease known all too well to millions of Americans and their families.” Because some days slow him down, he will not be able to participate in as many promotional conversations as originally hoped. He expressed hope that “the words on the page speak for themselves.”
He closed on a characteristic note of resilience, recalling a lesson from his father: “Champ, when you get knocked down, get up.” It remains, he said, a good lesson for him and for America.
Broader Context: Screening, Treatment Advances, and Public Conversation
Biden’s openness has renewed attention on prostate cancer screening and management. Guidelines generally recommend that men of average risk discuss screening around age 50; higher-risk groups (including Black men and those with strong family history) should start earlier. PSA blood tests and digital rectal exams remain common tools, though decisions are individualized after weighing benefits and risks of overdiagnosis or overtreatment.
Modern management of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer often combines androgen-deprivation therapy with additional agents (such as novel hormonal therapies or chemotherapy in select cases) and radiation when appropriate. Supportive care addresses bone health, pain, and quality of life. Ongoing research continues to refine sequencing of treatments and incorporate newer options, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies for certain molecular profiles.
Public figures sharing their experiences can reduce stigma and encourage men to seek care earlier. Biden’s September message explicitly framed his own story as a call to action: talk to your doctors, ask hard questions, and do it for yourself and the people who love you.
Looking Ahead
As Promise Me, America reaches shelves on November 17 and Biden marks his 84th birthday three days later, the former president continues balancing health management with public reflection on his years in office. Doctors’ continued encouragement is a positive signal, yet the disease remains a permanent presence requiring vigilance. Family support, medical care, and personal resilience form the foundation of his approach.
The update underscores a simple but powerful reality for many living with advanced cancer: progress is measured day by day. Some days are better. The work continues. And, as Biden reminded readers, the response to being knocked down still matters—for individuals and for the country.