Biden, 80, had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest during last month’s physical, White House doctor reveals
- Biden had a lesion removed from his chest during a physical in February
- It was determined to be cancer
- All basal cell material was removed
The lesion removed from President Joe Biden’s chest during his annual physical exam last month was cancerous, the White House physician announced Friday, but said all basal cell tissue had been removed.
The biopsy confirmed that the small lesion was basal cell carcinoma. All the cancerous tissue has been successfully removed,” said Dr. Kevin O’Connor.
“No further treatment is needed.”
Biden, 80, is “healing well” at the biopsy site and will continue “dermatological monitoring as part of his ongoing comprehensive health care,” O’Connor noted.
President Joe Biden had a lesion removed from his chest in February
Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest during his annual physical exam on Feb. 16.
O’Connor, in his evaluation of the president, deemed him still physically fit for office.
He’s not the only member of the family diagnosed with skin cancer.
Jill Biden underwent Mohs surgery in late January to remove lesions from each eyelid and on her chest. All cancer cells were removed.
The Bidens enjoy going to the beach and often unwind by spending time in the sun. The couple is also a frequent cyclist.
WHAT IS BASAL CELL CARCINOMA?
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer.
Non-melanoma means that no skin pigment cells are involved.
BCC often appears as scabs that bleed
BCC makes up more than 80 percent of all skin cancers in the UK and US.
About 5.4 million basal and squamous cell cancers are diagnosed each year in the US and about 100,000 in the UK.
It is mainly caused by overexposure to UV light from the sun or tanning beds.
BCC can appear anywhere on the body, but is most common on sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck, and ears.
The following people are most at risk:
- People with white skin or hair
- who work outside the home
- People who use tanning beds
- Those with a personal history of the condition
BCC is usually painless. Early symptoms often only include a scab that bleeds occasionally and does not heal.
Some appear as flat, red, scaly spots or have a pearly rim. The latter can then erode into an ulcer.
Others are lumpy with shiny nodules criss-crossed by blood vessels.
Most BCCs can be cured, but treatment is complex if they are kept for a long time.
Treatment usually involves removing the cancerous growth and some of the surrounding skin.
Source: British Skin Foundation And NHS choices
