President Joe Biden’s doctor said Friday that a lesion removed from the president’s chest last month was basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor wrote in a letter to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that the lesion was removed and biopsied. “As expected,” the lesion tested positive for basal cell carcinoma, O’Connor wrote.
“All cancerous tissue was successfully removed,” O’Connor wrote.
Biden will continue “dermatological surveillance” going forward, he added. Biden’s physician said “no further treatment” was required.
O’Connor said the area where the cancerous lesion was removed had “healed nicely.”
The letter also said: “Basal cell carcinoma lesions do not tend to ‘spread’ or metastasize, as some more serious skin cancers such as melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma are known to do.”
The lesion was initially removed during Biden’s annual physical in February. The White House announced the lesion was removed at the time for testing.
First lady Dr. Jill Biden had a procedure earlier this year to remove similar lesions.
According to a January letter issued by O’Connor, Jill Biden had a Mohs surgery to remove and examine a lesion above her right eye, which had been discovered during a routine skin cancer checkup.
“The procedure confirmed the small lesion was basal cell carcinoma,” O’Connor wrote in the letter. “All cancerous tissue was successfully removed, and the margins were clear of any residual skin cancer cells.”
However, during a pre-operative consultation, O’Connor noted “an additional area of concern was identified on the left side of the first lady’s chest.” This area was also treated with Mohs surgery.
In February, O’Connor reported that President Biden remains…
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