US President Joe Biden underwent surgery to remove a skin tumor on his chest, according to the White House. The operation took place on February 16 at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington.
The biopsy confirmed that the skin lesion was caused by basal cell carcinoma, according to a letter signed by President’s attending physician Kevin O’Connor. This type of skin cancer does not usually metastasize and all affected tissue has been successfully removed, the statement said.
No further treatment is needed for the 80-year-old president, the White House said. Biden will continue to be under the supervision of a dermatologist.
Basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma are the two most common forms of skin cancer in the US, writes BBC, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Basal cell carcinoma is diagnosed in 3.6 million Americans each year. It responds well to treatment and causes minimal damage if treated early.