President of the United States Joe Biden has undergone surgery to remove a malignant skin tumor, according to White House physician Kevin O’Connor. All of the affected tissue found on Biden’s chest was removed on February 16 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington.
No further treatment is required; after the surgery, the 80-year-old president underwent a medical examination and was pronounced healthy and “fit to return to work,” according to a White House statement. The document compiled by O’Connor states that the type of cancer found – basal cell carcinoma – usually does not metastasize.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two most common forms of skin cancer in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, basal cell carcinoma is diagnosed in 3.6 million Americans each year and is the most common form of skin cancer. It responds well to treatment and causes minimal damage if caught early.
These tumors are removed by micrographic surgery (using a microscope) using the method developed by Frederic Mohs in the 1930s. During Mohs surgery, the surgeon removes layers of skin one at a time until no trace of the tumor is found. The patient can usually go home the same day.
In January, it was revealed that Jill Biden, Biden’s wife and First Lady, also had three new growths removed from her skin, two of which subsequently tested positive for basal cell carcinoma. In the past, several skin tumors (other than melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer) have been found on Biden.
Doctors say the best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect your skin from the sun, even in winter.
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