President Biden had a "cancerous" skin lesion removed from his chest as part of his comprehensive health assessment in February, according to the White House.
White House physician Kevin O'Connor revealed in a late Friday afternoon memo that skin tissue was removed during his health assessment on Feb. 16 and was sent for a biopsy, which revealed it was cancerous.
The Feb. 16 health summary said a small lesion was removed from his chest for a biopsy - under the heading "skin cancer surveillance."
President Biden delivers remarks at the Homeland Security Department's 20th Anniversary ceremony at the Homeland Security Department in Washington, U.S., on Wednesday. (Reuters/Leah Millis)
"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," Biden's doctor wrote in a memo Friday, over two weeks since Biden's health evaluation.
According to the doctor, such lesions "do not tend to ‘spread’ or metastasize" like other, more serious forms of skin cancer. He added that they could potentially increase in size and become a bigger issue, as well as herder to surgically remove.
This letter was sent Friday, March 3, 2023 by White House physician Kevin O'Connor as a notification that President Biden successfully underwent treatment for a "cancerous" skin lesion following his Feb. 16 physical. (White House)
"The site of the biopsy has healed nicely and the President will continue dermatologic surveillance as part of his ongoing comprehensive healthcare," he wrote.
Doctor and Fox News contributor Nicole Saphier addressed the revelations about Biden's condition in a post on Twitter.
"President Biden had basal cell carcinoma removed from his chest. I guess that makes us twins now because so did I," she wrote, including a picture of a healed spot on her chest.
"Basal cell cancer is the most common form of skin cancer. Thankfully, it is rarely fatal, but it can be locally aggressive so surgery is key," she added.