US President Joe Biden underwent a successful procedure to remove a cancerous skin lesion from his chest in February, according to a report released by his physician on Friday.
The lesion, identified as a basal cell carcinoma, was discovered during a routine medical check-up and was removed during Biden’s annual physical examination on February 16. The president has since been declared “fit for duty” and no further treatment is required.
Basal cell carcinomas typically do not metastasize or spread, making them less serious than other types of skin cancer.
Biden’s physician, Kevin O’Connor, noted that the president had spent a significant amount of time in the sun during his youth and had received regular treatment for localized, non-melanoma skin cancers in the past.
However, O’Connor confirmed that Biden remains a healthy and vigorous 80-year-old male, capable of successfully executing the duties of his presidency, including those of Chief Executive, Head of State, and Commander in Chief.
The procedure was conducted at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where Biden underwent a series of tests that began last year. The medical check-up was the final one before an expected announcement by Biden regarding his candidacy for reelection in 2024.
O’Connor confirmed that the site of the biopsy has healed well and the president will continue to receive dermatologic surveillance as part of his ongoing comprehensive healthcare.