Former President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the radiation therapy he underwent for prostate cancer last fall has proven effective, offering a rare personal health update while marking Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
In a statement posted on X, Biden said the treatment “worked as intended,” allowing him to continue his post-presidential projects, including finishing his memoir. His office first disclosed in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive, hormone-sensitive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. He completed treatment in October.
“I am deeply grateful to the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who helped to control my cancer and who continue to take such good care of me,” Biden wrote. “Their skill, dedication, and compassion mean so much.”
The former president used the moment to encourage others to be proactive about their health. “Talk to your doctors. Ask the hard questions. Do it for yourself, and do it for the people who love you,” he said, adding that sharing his experience might help save lives.
Biden’s comments come amid heightened public scrutiny of his health since leaving office. His son, Hunter Biden, told the BBC last month that the cancer had spread and described the illness as “very debilitating.” Former first lady Jill Biden called the diagnosis “shocking,” suggesting that White House physicians had missed it during his presidency.
The 82-year-old has largely stayed out of the political spotlight since departing the White House, though he has occasionally weighed in on President Trump’s actions. In June, he called Trump “a loser” over renovation projects at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the Kennedy Center.
Biden is expected to join former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush at a ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Trump will attend a separate event at the Pentagon. The split commemorations underscore the ongoing political divisions, a theme Biden has touched on in his rare public remarks.
His memoir, “Promise Me, America,” set for release on Nov. 17, will cover his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his decision to end his 2024 reelection bid. The book is part of a broader effort by Biden to shape his legacy, even as health concerns and political controversies continue to follow him.
Biden’s announcement also draws attention to broader cancer prevention efforts. Recent studies, such as one linking early sugar rationing to longer telomeres and lower cancer risk, highlight the importance of lifestyle factors—a message Biden echoed in his statement.
As the former president continues his recovery, his public appearances remain selective, but his willingness to discuss his health may resonate with many Americans facing similar diagnoses.
