“Dilbert” Creator Scott Adams Shares Health Updates: “It’s All Bad News”
For decades, Scott Adams was the voice of the frustrated cubicle worker. His creation, “Dilbert,” became a cultural touchstone that satirized corporate bureaucracy so effectively that it ended up pinned to bulletin boards in the very offices it mocked.
Lately, the 68-year-old cartoonist has been documenting a much more personal and harrowing battle. In a candid livestream on January 1, 2026, Adams shared a sad update regarding his stage 4 prostate cancer. He told his audience that his chances of recovery have dropped to “essentially zero.”
Scott Adams’ Initial Diagnosis
This is harsh news to fans who have been following his health since his initial diagnosis in May 2025. While Adams has been a polarizing figure in recent years due to his political commentary, the vulnerability of his latest broadcast on “Real Coffee with Scott Adams” extends beyond his politics, highlighting the brutal, grim reality of a terminal diagnosis.
Scott Adams Reveals Terminal Prognosis
During his broadcast, Adams did not mince any words. He recounted (at 53:12) a conversation with his radiologist from the previous day, delivering the prognosis with the stoic pragmatism he is known for. Adams bluntly told his listeners:
“It’s all bad news. The odds of me recovering are essentially zero. I’ll give you any updates if that changes, but it won’t.”
The “Dilbert” creator explained that the cancer, which had already spread to his bones, has led to more complications. Adams revealed that he has lost feeling in his legs and is suffering from ongoing heart failure, which makes breathing often quite difficult throughout the day.
Adams warned his audience that January would likely be a “month of transition, one way or another,” a somber phrasing that suggests he is preparing for end-of-life care. Despite the grim outlook, he expressed a desire to keep working. “I will keep doing this as long as it makes sense,” he said of his podcast. “Because I like doing it, it keeps me busy.”
A Rapid Decline Since May 2025
Adams’s health struggles accelerated quickly. He first announced his diagnosis in May 2025, just one day after former President Joe Biden revealed he was battling the same aggressive form of prostate cancer. At the time, Adams, who has been a vocal critic of Biden, expressed rare solidarity and sympathy for the former President and his family, noting that he understood exactly what they were going through.
By late 2025, Adams’ condition had worsened. He began using a walker and described his daily life as a “nightmare” due to intolerable pain. There was a brief glimmer of hope in November 2025, when Adams publicly appealed to President Donald Trump on X (formerly Twitter) to help him cut through insurance red tape to access Pluvicto, a cancer drug.
Trump responded personally, and Adams received the treatment the next day. However, subsequent updates revealed that radiation treatments intended to help him regain strength in his lower body were ultimately unsuccessful, leaving him paralyzed below the waist.
Controversy and Political Interventions
It is impossible to discuss Adams’ current plight without acknowledging the turbulent years that preceded it. “Dilbert” was dropped by hundreds of newspapers, including the USA TODAY Network, in 2023 after Adams made some racist and disparaging comments on his podcast.
The backlash ended his career in mainstream syndication, pushing him further into political commentary on platforms like Rumble and X (formerly Twitter). Even as his public image shifted from a beloved cartoonist to a controversial pundit, his recent health updates have drawn sympathy from all across the spectrum. His ability to mobilize a sitting President to intervene in his medical care highlights the unique, albeit strange, position he occupies in the modern media landscape.
Looking Ahead to a “Month of Transition”
As Adams faces what he calls a “transition,” he remains focused on the things he can still control: his voice and his work. He mentioned plans to write down some “closing thoughts” and continues to engage with the world, noting that he is still definitely interested in the news despite having “much bigger problems” than the headlines.
For those who grew up reading “Dilbert” in the Sunday funnies, watching the creator fade is a stark reminder of mortality. Whether you view him as a comic genius or a controversial figure, Adams is documenting his final chapter with a level of transparency that is deeply human.
