Former President Joe Biden is scaling back plans to promote his upcoming memoir as he continues treatment for an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, a diagnosis that has renewed attention to the importance of early detection and the significant racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes.
Biden, 83, acknowledged Sunday that his health will prevent him from participating in as many appearances and conversations as he had originally planned ahead of the Nov. 17 release of his memoir, Promise Me, America.
“Some days are better than others,” Biden wrote in a social media post. “It hasn’t stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down.”
Although he remains determined to stay active, Biden said the physical demands of cancer treatment have forced him to reconsider his schedule.
He expressed optimism about his condition, saying his doctors were encouraged by his response to treatment and thanking supporters for their prayers and well-wishes.
The former president announced his prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025, several months after leaving the White House. His medical team identified an aggressive cancer that had already spread to his bones. Since then, he has undergone radiation and hormone therapy to help control the disease.
In August, his son Hunter Biden described the impact of the illness during an interview with the BBC, saying the cancer had spread and was causing his father considerable pain.
Former first lady Jill Biden has also spoken publicly about the family’s expectations, suggesting that her husband will likely live with cancer for the remainder of his life.
Despite the challenges, Biden has continued making public appearances and speaking about national issues, although his treatment and recovery increasingly influence his schedule.
Prostate Cancer Survival Rates Depend on How Far the Disease Has Spread
Biden’s diagnosis brings attention to a disease that affects hundreds of thousands of American men and demonstrates why the stage at which prostate cancer is discovered can dramatically influence survival.
According to the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, the overall five-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer in the United States is 98.2%.
However, that encouraging national figure tells only part of the story.
When prostate cancer is detected before it has spread to distant organs or bones, five-year relative survival approaches 100%. Once the disease has spread to distant parts of the body, the rate falls to approximately 40.1%.
Prostate Cancer: Five-Year Relative Survival Rates
Relative survival compares patients diagnosed with cancer to similar people in the general population. These statistics are population estimates, not predictions of an individual’s outcome. Source: NCI Cancer Stat Facts.
Approximately 83% of prostate cancers are diagnosed while the disease remains localized or regional, helping explain the high overall survival rate.
Still, prostate cancer remains a serious public health concern. The American Cancer Society estimates approximately 36,320 men will die from the disease in the United States in 2026.
For patients with metastatic prostate cancer, such as Biden, treatment often focuses on controlling the disease, slowing its progression, relieving symptoms and preserving quality of life. Hormone therapy reduces the effects of testosterone, which can fuel the growth of many prostate cancers. Radiation can also be used to target cancer and help manage symptoms.
Medical experts caution that survival statistics cannot determine how long an individual patient will live. Age, overall health, the aggressiveness of the cancer and response to treatment all influence outcomes.
Black Men Face Disproportionately Higher Risks
The national survival figures also reveal an important disparity that has long concerned physicians and public health advocates.
Black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer at nearly 70% higher rates than White men and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
These differences reflect a combination of factors, including barriers to timely screening, access to medical care, differences in treatment and other social and health-related conditions.
For Black families and communities, the statistics underscore the importance of discussing prostate cancer risks with health care providers, particularly when there is a family history of the disease.
Prostate cancer may develop without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test can help identify potential problems, although testing has benefits and risks that should be discussed with a physician.
The American Cancer Society recommends that men at average risk begin discussing screening at age 50. Black men and men with a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 should begin those discussions at age 45. Men with multiple close relatives diagnosed at an early age may need to begin discussions at age 40.
Early detection does not guarantee survival, but identifying aggressive prostate cancer before it spreads can provide more treatment options.
New Memoir Revisits Biden’s Presidency and 2024 Withdrawal
Former President Joe Biden’s memoir, Promise Me, America, scheduled for release Nov. 17, reflects on his presidency, including his administration’s response to COVID-19, infrastructure investments, health care policies and support for Ukraine.
The book also examines his controversial decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following concerns about his age, health and debate performance. Biden ended his reelection campaign in July 2024 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.