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November 8, 2026.
Former President Joe Biden revealed Sunday that his ongoing medical treatment for cancer has taken a physical toll, forcing him to significantly curtail scheduled public appearances and media interviews for his forthcoming presidential memoir, Promise Me, America.
In a direct, personal statement published on social media, the 83-year-old former commander-in-chief offered an unvarnished assessment of his physical condition, explaining that while medical specialists remain encouraged by his response to therapy, the rigors of treatment have forced him to conserve his energy.
"Some days are better than others. It hasn't stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down," Biden wrote. "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."
'Promise Me, America' and White House reflections
The highly anticipated memoir, published by Little, Brown and Company, is scheduled for national release on November 17, 2026. The book represents Biden's definitive firsthand accounting of his four years in the Oval Office, chronicling major domestic legislative battles, international crises, and his historic decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential campaign.
Publisher representatives had initially coordinated an extensive broadcast rollout and multi-city promotional tour. With Biden stepping back from live travel and extended interview tapings, promotional efforts will lean heavily on excerpts, serialized adaptations, and pre-recorded statements.
"It covers my years as President. The challenges we faced, the decisions I made, and why I made them," Biden reflected in his statement. "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."
Cancer diagnosis and public reaction
Biden disclosed in his statement that he was diagnosed with cancer during the intensive writing process of the manuscript. While the former president did not detail specific clinical staging, medical advisers and family spokespersons confirmed he has been undergoing targeted therapeutic regimens under close supervision in Delaware and the Washington area.
The disclosure sparked an immediate wave of bipartisan support from political figures, former cabinet officials, and civil leaders. Observers noted the poignancy of Biden's personal health struggle, given his decades-long championship of the federal "Cancer Moonshot" initiative, which he spearheaded during the Obama administration and revitalized as president following the 2015 death of his eldest son, Beau Biden, from glioblastoma.
"While writing the book, I was diagnosed with cancer, a disease known all too well to millions of Americans and their families," Biden stated. "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."
Former president's statement
Joe Biden shared the update regarding his health and memoir on his official X account:
Open Joe Biden's verified post on X if the embed above does not display.
