On Friday, The White House reported that Joe Biden had a cancerous tissue removed back in February of this year. The statement also said that no further medical treatment will be required.
The report states that the President had a skin lesion removed from his chest, which was confirmed to be basal cell carcinoma. The report also notes that all cancerous tissue was successfully removed and that no further treatment is required. The area around the biopsy site was treated with electrodessication and curettage, which is a standard procedure for treating basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a type of skin cancer that develops in the basal cells, which are found in the lowest layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). Basal cell carcinomas are typically slow-growing and rarely spread to other parts of the body, but they can be locally invasive and destructive if left untreated. They usually appear as small, shiny bumps or nodules on the skin, often with visible blood vessels, and may have a pearly or translucent quality. They can also appear as scaly, red patches or open sores that don’t heal, and may bleed or ooze.
Apparently Biden has just overcome cancer. pic.twitter.com/C3FdX68B5j
— Ivory Hecker (@IvoryHecker) March 3, 2023
BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for approximately 80% of all cases. It is usually caused by long-term sun exposure and is more common in fair-skinned people. While BCC is usually treatable and rarely life-threatening, it is important to catch it early and seek treatment, as it can cause significant damage to surrounding tissues if left unchecked.
FULL STATEMENT TRANSCRIPT:
On 16 February, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the President had a skin lesion removed from his chest as part of his comprehensive health assessment. This tissue was sent for traditional biopsy.
As expected, the biopsy confirmed that the small lesion was basal cell carcinoma. All cancerous tissue was successfully removed. The area around the biopsy site was treated presumptively with electrodessication and curettage at the time of biopsy. No further treatment is required.
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. They do, however, have the potential to increase in size, resulting in a more significant issue as well as increased challenges for surgical removal.
The site of the biopsy has healed nicely and the President will continue dermatologic surveillance as part of his ongoing comprehensive healthcare.
