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In a recent interview with People, former President Joe Biden discussed his cancer diagnosis, revealing that he was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in May 2025. He completed his treatment in October of that year. Biden emphasized that he did not hide his diagnosis while in office, stating, "I didn’t do that. We let the public know when I found out, when I knew what was going on." He noted the importance of transparency for national leaders, saying, "I think it’s important for a national leader, as President, to let people know they go through some of the very same things that a lot of American people are going through."
Biden, who is now 83, shared that had he been aware of his diagnosis earlier, he would not have sought a second term. "If I had known that I was feeling lousy because I had cancer, I would have resigned," he said, adding that he believed an 80-year-old man with cancer should not run for president. Despite his health challenges, Biden maintained, "I believe that on an objective basis, I was the best person to do the job."
The former president's memoir, Promise Me, America, is set to be released next week. The book covers significant events from his presidency, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the withdrawal from Afghanistan. In a post on X, Biden mentioned that while his health sometimes slows him down, he remains optimistic about his prognosis. He stated, "There’s a lot of people who’ve been diagnosed with cancer, particularly the kind of cancer I have, who live long lives, who live for another 10, 20 years."
Biden's interview and memoir promotion come as he reflects on his time in office and his decision to step back from a potential re-election bid in 2024. He dropped out of the race following a challenging debate performance against President Donald Trump, which led to pressure from his party to withdraw. Biden endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris shortly after, as reported by The Hill.