The White House reported that Joe Biden had a cancerous tissue removed in February.
According to the statement, Biden will require no further medical treatment.
The report states that the President had a skin lesion removed from his chest, later confirmed to be basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma is a skin cancer typically not considered serious, as it does not tend to spread or metastasize.
The report notes that all cancerous tissue was successfully removed.
The area was treated with electrodesiccation and curettage, a standard procedure in treating basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a form of skin cancer that develops in the basal cells, found in the lowest layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin).
Basal cell carcinomas are generally slow in growth and rarely spread to other parts of the body.
However, they can be locally invasive and destructive if left untreated.
The cancer is usually small in size, appearing as shiny bumps or nodules on the skin and visible blood vessels.
They can also appear as scaly, red patches or open sores that don’t heal and may bleed or ooze.
BCC accounts for approximately 80% of all cases and is the most common type of skin cancer.
While BCC is usually treatable, catching it early and seeking treatment is important.
FULL STATEMENT TRANSCRIPT BELOW:
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.
READ MORE: Joe Biden: ‘We’re Gonna Ban Assault Weapons Again Come Hell or High Water’
