Joe Biden Scales Back Memoir Tour Amid Cancer Treatment

Former US President Joe Biden has announced that he will scale back plans to promote his upcoming memoir, Promise Me, America, saying his ongoing cancer treatment has affected how much he can do. The 83-year-old said he had hoped to take part in more public conversations about the book but would now have to reduce his schedule.

In a post on X on Sunday, November 8, Biden offered a personal update on his health and explained that his condition sometimes affects his energy. “Some days are better than others,” he wrote, adding that cancer treatment had not stopped him from carrying on with his work but sometimes slowed him down.

The announcement comes as Biden prepares for the memoir’s release on November 17. The book is expected to cover his presidency, major decisions during his four years in the White House and his eventual withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.

Biden Says Cancer Treatment Is Affecting His Book Tour Plans

Biden said he would no longer be able to participate in as many conversations about Promise Me, America as he had originally planned. He nevertheless expressed hope that readers would connect with the book even if he could not attend every promotional event.

“However, I’m hopeful the words on the page speak for themselves,” Biden wrote.

His statement suggests that the memoir’s release will go ahead as scheduled, although his public appearances and promotional commitments may be more limited. He did not provide a revised itinerary or specify which events would be affected.

Biden also used the post to thank people who have sent messages of support and offered prayers during his treatment. He said his doctors were encouraged by how he had responded to the treatment so far and reiterated his determination to continue fighting the disease.

The former president’s decision to reduce his schedule highlights the practical impact of a serious illness on public engagements. Book tours can involve travel, interviews, stage appearances and extended conversations, all of which require considerable energy. Biden’s comments indicate that he is adjusting those commitments while continuing to focus on his recovery.

Joe Biden Was Diagnosed With Aggressive Prostate Cancer in 2025

Biden publicly disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025, several months after leaving the White House in January that year. His office said medical examinations had identified an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.

The diagnosis drew widespread attention because prostate cancer can vary significantly in its behaviour and treatment requirements. When cancer spreads beyond the prostate to other parts of the body, it is described as metastatic or advanced prostate cancer.

Biden has undergone radiation therapy and hormone treatment. These treatments are commonly used in managing prostate cancer, particularly when the disease has spread. The precise treatment plan and its individual effects, however, depend on a patient’s medical circumstances.

In August 2026, Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, discussed his father’s condition in an interview with the BBC. Hunter said the cancer had spread to his father’s bones and described the illness as painful and debilitating. His comments offered a more detailed account of the family’s experience but did not constitute a medical update directly from Biden’s doctors.

Former first lady Jill Biden has also spoken publicly about the seriousness of the diagnosis. She previously told NBC News that she believed Joe Biden would live with cancer for the rest of his life.

Separately, Biden’s office disclosed in 2025 that he had undergone surgery to remove cancerous skin cells. That procedure concerned skin cancer and was distinct from his prostate cancer diagnosis.

What Biden Has Said About His Response to Treatment

In his latest post, Biden said his doctors were encouraged by his response to treatment. He did not provide specific test results, details about the current extent of the disease or a revised medical prognosis.

His comments are therefore a personal update rather than a comprehensive clinical report. While Hunter Biden previously described the cancer as having spread to his father’s bones, the latest statement does not offer further details about whether the disease has changed or how doctors are assessing it.

Advanced prostate cancer can often be managed with treatment, although outcomes differ between patients. Hormone therapy works by reducing or blocking the effects of hormones that can help prostate cancer cells grow. Radiation therapy uses targeted energy to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth in affected areas.

Treatment can also bring side effects, including fatigue and changes in physical stamina. Biden did not directly attribute every limitation in his schedule to a particular treatment or side effect, but his description of being slowed down provides context for his decision to reduce public appearances.

His announcement also reflects the distinction between continuing to perform selected public duties and maintaining an intensive travel and promotional schedule. Biden has indicated that he intends to remain engaged, while acknowledging that his health places limits on how much he can undertake.

What Joe Biden’s Memoir, Promise Me, America, Will Cover

Promise Me, America is scheduled for publication on November 17. According to Biden, the memoir will examine his four years as president, including the decisions he made and the reasons behind them.

In announcing the book, Biden described it as an account of his faith in the American people and the country’s experiment in self-government and democracy. The memoir is expected to offer his perspective on the administration’s major choices, political challenges and the events that shaped his presidency.

Publisher Hachette Book Group has said the book will cover Biden’s presidential campaign, his time in the White House and his decision to seek another term. It will also address his eventual decision in the summer of 2024 to withdraw from the presidential race.

That decision followed weeks of pressure from Democratic lawmakers, party figures and supporters after Biden’s performance in a televised debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump raised concerns among many Democrats about his ability to continue the campaign.

Biden suspended his re-election bid in July 2024 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. Harris subsequently became the party’s candidate in the November election, which she lost to Trump.

The memoir is expected to revisit the political calculations surrounding Biden’s withdrawal, including how he weighed his personal ambition against the interests of his party and the country. The publisher has described the decision as a deeply difficult one.

Biden’s Decision to Leave the 2024 Presidential Race

Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 campaign remains one of the defining events of the final phase of his presidency. He had repeatedly maintained that he intended to seek a second term, but the debate with Trump intensified questions about his age, public performances and ability to lead another four-year administration.

Pressure grew within the Democratic Party as elected officials and donors questioned whether Biden could defeat Trump. After initially defending his candidacy, he announced that he would step aside and support Harris.

The decision changed the direction of the Democratic campaign and placed Harris at the centre of the party’s effort to retain the White House. Biden’s memoir is expected to provide his own account of the discussions and considerations that led to his withdrawal.

Biden has frequently pushed back against criticism of his memory and mental sharpness. His age and health had been subjects of public discussion throughout his presidency, particularly as he became the oldest person to serve as US president.

By addressing the 2024 decision in his memoir, Biden will have an opportunity to explain how he viewed the political pressure and the responsibilities associated with remaining in the race. Readers will be able to assess his account alongside the public record of the campaign and the statements made by other participants.

Why Biden’s Health Remains a Public Issue

Biden’s cancer diagnosis has kept his health in the public conversation even after his departure from the White House. His age, the advanced nature of the disease and comments from members of his family have contributed to public interest in his condition.

As a former president, Biden continues to attract attention when he comments on national issues or appears at public events. His decision to reduce the memoir tour is therefore likely to affect how frequently audiences see him during the book’s release period.

However, fewer promotional appearances do not necessarily mean that Biden is stepping away from public life altogether. His latest statement was specifically about the number of book-related conversations he expects to undertake. He did not announce a broader withdrawal from public engagements.

The distinction is important because the memoir remains a major opportunity for Biden to present his account of his presidency and the 2024 election. A reduced tour may limit the number of interviews and public discussions, but the book itself is still scheduled for publication.

Biden Thanks Supporters as He Continues Treatment

Biden’s message combined an update about his health with an expression of gratitude to those who have supported him. He acknowledged that some days are more difficult than others but said the illness had not stopped him from continuing with his plans.

His doctors’ reported encouragement about his response to treatment offers a positive element in an otherwise difficult health update. At the same time, the comments from Hunter Biden and Jill Biden underline the seriousness of the diagnosis and the challenges facing the family.

For now, Biden appears to be adjusting his schedule around his treatment and physical limitations while preparing for the release of Promise Me, America. The memoir is due on November 17, but the former president has made clear that readers should expect fewer promotional conversations than he originally intended.