Former President Joe Biden said his ongoing cancer treatment will force him to reduce promotional appearances for his upcoming memoir. The book is set for release on Nov. 17.
Former President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he will scale back promotional appearances for his upcoming White House memoir because his ongoing cancer treatment has slowed him down at times.
Scaling back appearances
In a message posted to the social media platform X, Biden explained that the physical toll of his illness will force him to limit public engagements leading up to the release of the book. He noted that although the illness has not stopped him, he cannot participate in as many conversations about the volume as he had originally planned, adding that he hopes the written pages will speak for themselves.
Biden wrote, “Some days are better than others. It hasn’t stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down.”
The former president said his medical team continues to feel encouraged by how his body has responded to treatment. Biden also thanked the public for their prayers and support, noting that his father once taught him to get back up after being knocked down, which he called an instructive lesson for both himself and the country. He emphasized his faith in the American experiment in self-governance and democracy, describing the country as an idea built on the principle that all people are created equal.
Treatment and health challenges
Biden, 83, has been receiving medical care since leaving the White House in January 2025, NBC News reported. He revealed in May 2025 that doctors had diagnosed him with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones, according to Fox News.
Since receiving that diagnosis, Biden has undergone courses of hormone treatment and radiation therapy. His office also shared last year that surgeons removed cancerous skin cells from his body. During his presidency, Biden was the oldest individual to serve as commander-in-chief, and public scrutiny over his physical endurance, memory and mental sharpness followed him throughout his administration.
Members of Biden’s family have also spoken publicly about his physical struggles. In an August interview with the BBC, his son Hunter Biden explained that the cancer had spread farther into his bones and was causing significant discomfort. Hunter Biden said, “It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many respects.” Former first lady Jill Biden previously told NBC News that her husband will live with cancer for the rest of his life.
Inside the White House memoir
The memoir, titled “Promise Me, America,” is scheduled to hit shelves on Nov. 17. Deadline reported that Biden had previously suggested the memoir could arrive ahead of the November elections before the official mid-November date was finalized. Outlets differed on the book’s publisher, with Deadline citing Little, Brown and NBC News naming Hachette Book Group.
The volume provides a direct account of Biden’s four years in office, examining the domestic and international crises of his presidency. According to Biden’s public remarks, the book covers his efforts to guide the country through the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuild the domestic economy, and restore democratic institutions following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
On foreign policy, the memoir details his administration’s global diplomacy. The book reflects on ending the military mission in Afghanistan, which concluded America’s longest war, as well as his administration’s actions to strengthen the NATO alliance and maintain support for Ukraine.
Deliberations over the 2024 election
A central focus of the memoir is Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign and his eventual decision to step aside from the race. Promotional descriptions state that the book reveals the painful calculations behind his choice in the summer of 2024 to drop his candidacy and place party and country ahead of personal ambitions.
Biden launched a re-election bid before facing intense pressure from party allies to withdraw following concerns regarding his age and stamina. Biden consistently defended his memory and mental fitness, but he ultimately suspended his campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to head the Democratic ticket.
The memoir covers the private deliberations behind that withdrawal, connecting his time in office to his broader view of American democracy as he prepares for the book’s Nov. 17 release.
