Scott Adams, creator of the “Dilbert” comic strip, is revealing he’s been diagnosed with prostate cancer like former President Joe Biden – but he does not have long to live.
During a live stream on May 19, the cartoonist, 67, revealed that like Biden, he has also been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to the bone. “My life expectancy is maybe this summer,” Adams said. “I expect to be checking out from this domain sometime this summer.”
Adams, who said he has been using a walker for months, went on to detail how he is “always in pain” and doesn’t “have good days,” telling viewers, “Every day is a nightmare, and evening is even worse.”
Adams announced the news after expressing “compassion and sympathy” for Biden, who a spokesperson said on May 18 has been diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer that has spread to the bone.
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The former president was diagnosed on May 16 after “experiencing urinary symptoms,” the spokesperson said, adding that although the cancer is aggressive, it appears “to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.”
Though Adams noted that fans may be shocked to hear about his cancer diagnosis, he said that he has had time to process it.
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“It’s kind of civilized that you know about how long you have, so you can put your affairs together and make sure you’ve said your goodbyes and done all the things you need to do,” Adams said. “So if you had to pick a way to die, this one’s really painful, like really, really painful. But it’s also kind of good that it gives you enough time while your brain is still working to wrap things up.”
He also explained he did not share his diagnosis earlier because he did not want people to think of him differently. When he noticed that some viewers watching the stream were having a “tough time” with the news, he told them, “Nothing lasts forever.”
Adams’ comic strip “Dilbert,” which draws humor from office life, was first published in 1989.
In 2023, numerous newspapers, including the USA TODAY Network, announced they would stop running “Dilbert” due to racist comments made by Adams, who said that white people should “get the hell away from Black people.”
The USA TODAY Network said at the time that “recent discriminatory comments” by Adams “have influenced our decision to discontinue publishing his comic,” adding, “While we respect and encourage free speech, his views do not align with our editorial or business values as an organization.” Adams maintained that the comments were meant to be hyperbolic.
Contributing: Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Dilbert’ creator Scott Adams cancer: Cartoonist says he’s dying
