Days after former President Joe Biden was seen leaving church with a scar on his forehead, his spokesperson confirmed that he had recently undergone surgery to remove skin cancer lesions. The confirmation was reported by multiple media outlets.
Political consultant Fred Karger, who took a video of Biden in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, told Inside Edition, which first broke the story, that he was surprised by how fresh the scar appeared.
Common skin cancer procedure
Biden’s spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press that the former president, 82, had Mohs surgery, a common procedure used to treat both routine and rare types of skin cancer. The surgery involves cutting away thin layers of skin until all cancerous cells are removed.
The procedure was developed in the 1930s by 23-year-old Dr. Frederic Mohs, who was a research assistant at the time and learning about chemosurgeries as he began training as a surgeon. The procedure is useful for skin cancers that have a high risk of returning after previous treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic.
It remains unclear when Biden’s surgery took place or which type of skin cancer the procedure was for. However, this is not Biden’s first skin cancer procedure.
While in office, Biden had a basal cell carcinoma lesion removed from his chest. At the time, his physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, confirmed that no further treatment was required since all cancerous tissue had been cleared.
Former First Lady Jill Biden underwent a similar procedure in 2023 to remove cancerous skin lesions.
Cancer diagnosis earlier this year
Biden’s most recent procedure comes after he revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The disease had spread to his bones, and his family said they were reviewing treatment options with physicians.
Shortly after the diagnosis was made public, Biden told CNN that he was feeling great. He emphasized that the cancer had not spread to his organs and that his bones, despite being affected, remained strong.
He also confirmed that he had started a pill regimen to treat the cancer.
How common is skin cancer?
The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, and it can affect anyone — regardless of skin color. Having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma, which is the least common but most dangerous type of skin cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. Most cases of skin cancer are highly treatable when caught early.
