White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor confirmed that the tumor excised from President Joe Biden's chest last month was malignant.
According to O'Connor, the location of the biopsy has healed satisfactorily, and the president will continue to undergo dermatological monitoring as part of his comprehensive treatment.
Joe Biden's Health Update
Biden underwent his second medical procedure as president on February 16 at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center amid worries about his age as he considers a second bid for office. Biden is the nation's oldest serving president at age 80.
Following the examination, O'Connor granted Biden a clean bill of health, claiming he was "fit for duty" and able to execute his obligations "without exclusions or adjustments."
Before becoming president, Biden underwent Mohs surgery to remove numerous non-melanoma skin malignancies, ABC News reported. Jill Biden underwent Mohs surgery in January to remove a skin cancer lesion above her right eye that was identified during a regular skin cancer test.
O'Connor stated at the time that all malignant tissue was removed after doctors advised the first lady to have the tumor removed out of an excess of caution. During the treatment, Jill Biden also had an "area of concern" consistent with basal cell carcinoma excised from the left side of her chest.
At Biden's 80th birthday medical checkup, Dr. O'Connor declared him "healthy, active, and fit" to carry out his White House duties. This comes just weeks before Biden starts his 2024 reelection campaign.
The removal location on Biden's chest has "healed well," according to Dr. O'Connor, and the president will continue to undergo monthly skin tests as part of his usual health plan. Dr. O'Connor stated that they do not tend to spread like other malignancies, but their size may increase, which is why they are removed.
Before assuming the presidency, Biden had "many localized non-melanoma skin tumors" excised, according to Dr. O'Connor's 16 February review of the president's health. Per Mirror, the expert stated it was widely acknowledged that Biden spent much time in the sun throughout his adolescence.
The Bidens have been longtime campaigners for cancer prevention. Their adult son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015. In July of last year, at an address on climate change, Biden disclosed that he has cancer. The US President spoke at the site of a former coal-fired power plant in Somerset, Massachusetts, about his upbringing in Claymont, Delaware, which has several oil refineries.
What is Basal Cell Tumor?
According to the Mayo Clinic, basal cell carcinoma is commonly seen in the head and neck, frequently the areas most exposed to the sun's UV radiation. It originates in the basal cells, which are responsible for creating new skin cells when older cells die, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Abigail Waldman, head of the Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, remarked, "It hardly ever spreads within the body or does something horrible like that."
According to Waldman, basal cell carcinoma is particularly prevalent in older people with years of sun exposure. Those with pale skin are also more likely to acquire cancer. According to Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer of the American Cancer Society, squamous cell carcinoma is a kind of skin cancer frequently grouped with basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma often manifests as a tiny, raised, pink or pearly-white pimple on the skin. According to Waldman, it tends to bleed, scab, and reappear. If the lesion persists for more than six to eight weeks, it may be a symptom of basal cell carcinoma.
Skin cancer tests typically detect it, and a biopsy is performed to confirm the diagnosis. Basal cell carcinoma is generally curable, but people who have it are more prone to develop skin cancer in the future; thus, doctors urge screening at least twice yearly. Although cancer typically develops after years of sun exposure, experts recommend using sunscreen and wearing helmets, as USA Today.
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