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Biden Says Cancer 'Slows Me Down': What Cancer Fatigue Is
Joe Biden says his prostate cancer sometimes slows him down and is scaling back his book tour. What cancer-related fatigue is, and what helps.
A plain-language summary based on public reporting and trusted sources, linked below.
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What Biden said
On Sunday, November 8, 2026, former President Joe Biden posted an update about his prostate cancer on X. Newsweek and AFP both reported it.
"Some days are better than others," he wrote. "It hasn't stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down."
He said that means he will not be able to do as many conversations about his new memoir as he had hoped. The book, "Promise Me, America," comes out on November 17. He also wrote that his doctors "continue to be encouraged by how I've responded to treatment."
What is already known
In May 2025 his office said he had prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) that had spread to the bone. In October 2025 a spokeswoman said he had finished a course of radiation. He had also been on hormone therapy.
In August 2026 his son Hunter said the cancer had spread further. We covered that in an earlier story.
The new post does not say what treatment he is on now, or anything about scans. This article does not guess. It explains the kind of tiredness he describes, because it is one of the most common things people with cancer live with.
Cancer fatigue is not ordinary tiredness
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) says normal tiredness usually comes from activity and goes away with rest. Cancer-related fatigue is different. It is "not completely relieved by sleep or rest." It can come on even after little or no activity.
NCI lists many causes:
- The cancer itself. NCI notes that prostate and breast cancers can change hormone levels.
- Treatment. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy can all cause it.
- Side effects such as anemia (low red blood cells), pain, poor sleep, poor appetite and hot flashes.
- Stress, worry and depression.
Fatigue often gets better after treatment ends, NCI says. But some people have it for months or years.
Why hormone therapy matters here
Hormone therapy lowers male hormones, called androgens, that help prostate cancer grow. NCI's fact sheet lists fatigue among its side effects. Others include hot flashes, loss of muscle and strength, weight gain, bone thinning and mood swings.
For prostate cancer that has spread and still responds to hormones, NCI says hormone therapy "can delay progression of metastatic disease and may extend survival." Today it is often combined with another hormone medicine or with chemotherapy. Which mix fits depends on the person and how much the cancer has spread. That is why many people stay on it for a long time, and live with its side effects for a long time too.
What can help
NCI suggests several things. Not all of them fit everyone, so it is worth asking the care team which make sense.
- Treat what can be treated. Anemia, pain, sleep problems and depression can all be treated, and that can ease fatigue. Sometimes a change in pain medicine helps.
- Move. Gentle exercise such as walking can help. A physical therapist can make a safe plan.
- Rest well. Keep regular sleep habits. Keep naps under an hour so night sleep is not disturbed.
- Plan your energy. Decide which activities matter most and save energy for them. That is close to what Biden describes doing with his book tour.
- Eat and drink. Small, frequent meals and plenty of water help. A dietitian can help too.
- Keep a fatigue diary. Note when you feel worst and best, and bring it to appointments.
NCI says there is no standard medicine for cancer fatigue.
When to tell your care team
Fatigue is easy to shrug off as just part of cancer. NCI says to tell your care team if you are very weak and tired, especially if you cannot do your normal activities or are still tired after rest. A good question to ask at your next visit: "What signs or symptoms should I call you about?"
- Cancer-related fatigue
- Hormone therapy for prostate cancer
- Metastatic prostate cancer: what now?
- Living with stage 4 cancer
Sources
- Newsweek: Joe Biden Gives Cancer Update: "Some Days Are Better Than Others"
- Gulf News / AFP: Biden scales back book tour as cancer "slows me down"
- NCI: Fatigue and Cancer Treatment
- NCI: Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer
How this article was prepared
An AI-assisted editorial system helped prepare this page. No named medical reviewer has reviewed it unless one is listed.
Cancer Explained is published by the National Cancer Information Foundation. It is not medical advice and does not suggest a test or treatment.
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Put the story in context
Prevention, possible warning signs, screening, and diagnosis
This story relates to Prostate cancer. The information below is general: it does not reveal anything else about a public person’s health, and not every point applies to every cancer. Personal advice depends on age, symptoms, family history, exposures, and medical history.
Prevention and risk reduction
Not every cancer can be prevented. Avoiding tobacco, protecting skin from ultraviolet radiation, limiting alcohol, staying active, and receiving recommended HPV or hepatitis B vaccination can lower the risk of certain cancers. A risk factor is not a prediction or a cause in one individual.
Symptoms and possible early signs
Possible signs vary and are often caused by conditions other than cancer. Changes worth discussing include a new lump, unexplained bleeding or weight loss, a persistent cough, lasting bowel or bladder changes, a changing skin spot, or symptoms that persist or worsen. Some early cancers cause no symptoms.
Screening and early detection
Screening looks for certain cancers before symptoms begin. Recommended tests exist only for some cancers and depend on age and risk. Screening can have benefits and harms; it is not the same as evaluating a new symptom, and there is no single routine scan or blood test that reliably screens for every cancer.
How cancer is diagnosed
Diagnosis may involve a history and exam, imaging, laboratory tests, and often a biopsy. Pathology can identify the cancer type and may test biomarkers that guide treatment. Symptoms, screening results, tumor markers, or online stories alone cannot confirm cancer.
Learn more about prostate cancer
A public story may encourage questions, but it should not be used to estimate your risk or choose testing. Contact a healthcare professional about a persistent or concerning change. Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.