Full Breakdown
Biden Updates Prostate Cancer Treatment, Urges Early Screening
9/10/2026, 1:22:53 AM
Core Health Update
Former President Joe Biden announced on September 8, 2026 that the radiation therapy he began in the fall of 2025 “worked as intended.” He said the treatment has allowed him to continue working on his memoir, *Promise Me, America*. In the same post, Biden urged men to discuss prostate-cancer screening with their doctors, noting that early detection yields a five-year survival rate “close to 100 percent.”
Background & Context
Biden’s office disclosed in May 2025 that he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer after urinary symptoms led doctors to find a prostate nodule. The disease had already metastasized to his bones, classifying it as Stage 4. The office reported a Gleason score of 9, indicating high aggressiveness, but said the cancer appeared hormone-sensitive, permitting hormone therapy alongside radiation.
Data & Statistics
- More than 330,000 American men are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2026 (statement by Biden).
- The five-year survival rate for early-detected prostate cancer is “close to 100 percent” (Biden’s claim).
- Gleason score 9 places the cancer in Grade Group 5, the second-worst grading for prostate cancer aggressiveness (office report).
Official Statements & Responses
His office reiterated that the radiation and hormone treatments are proceeding as planned and that he feels well enough to remain active in public life and writing.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Pain vs. Well-Being: Biden’s own update conveys optimism and no mention of severe pain, while Hunter Biden’s August 7 interview characterizes the disease as “very painful and very debilitating.”
- Prognosis Details: Biden did not provide a specific prognosis or indicate whether additional treatments are anticipated, leaving the long-term outlook unclear.
- Medical Details: The office confirmed hormone sensitivity but has not disclosed current hormone-therapy regimens or any planned adjustments.
Verbatim Quotes
- “More than 330,000 American men this year will hear the words we did last spring when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” — Joe Biden, former US president
- “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,” — Joe Biden, former US president
- “Talk to your doctors. Ask the hard questions. Do it for yourself, and do it for the people who love you,” — Joe Biden, former US president
- “The radiation treatment from last fall worked as intended,” — Joe Biden, former US president
What’s Next
Biden’s memoir, *Promise Me, America*, is scheduled for release later this year. He indicated that the book will cover major events from his presidency and his personal health journey. No further medical updates have been scheduled beyond the ongoing radiation and hormone treatments.
