Cameron Smith / The White House / Public domain / Archive February 16, 2023 White House screening; not current memoir or cancer-treatment appearance
Former US President Joe Biden said Sunday that his cancer treatment has at times slowed him down, forcing him to scale back planned public appearances ahead of the November 17 release of his presidential memoir, Promise Me, America.
In a post on X, Biden said his doctors remained encouraged by his response to treatment, while acknowledging the challenges of living with the disease.
I want to share a brief update. My presidential memoir, PROMISE ME, AMERICA, is coming out on November 17th. I hope you’ll read it. It covers my years as President. The challenges we faced, the decisions I made, and why I made them. 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. While writing the book, I was diagnosed with cancer, a disease known all too well to millions of Americans and their families. 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. Some days are better than others. It hasn’t stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down. 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. Looking forward, I’m going to keep following what my father told me a long time ago: “Champ, when you get knocked down, get up.” It’s a good lesson for me. And for America. We are blessed. America is the most unique nation on earth. Unlike other countries, we’re built on an idea. An idea bigger than any ocean. More powerful than any army. Stronger than any tyrant or dictator. That idea? All of us are created equal. Promise Me, America, we’ll never forget it.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 8, 2026
“Some days are better than others. It hasn’t stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down,” Biden wrote. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to do as many conversations about my book as I’d hoped.”
Biden received diagnosis while working on memoir
Biden said he was diagnosed with cancer while writing the memoir, which recounts his presidency, the decisions he made, and America’s role in the world.
“My doctors continue to be encouraged by how I’ve responded to treatment,” he said, thanking supporters for their prayers and well wishes.
Looking ahead, Biden recalled advice from his father: “Champ, when you get knocked down, get up.”
“It’s a good lesson for me. And for America,” he added.
