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Former U.S. President Joe Biden recently underwent surgery to remove cancerous lesions from his forehead, his spokesperson confirmed. The 82-year-old had a visible scar on his head in late August, after attending church in Delaware with a large bandage above his right eye.
Biden's representative, Kelly Scully, said he underwent Mohs surgery, a procedure used to treat common forms of skin cancer by removing layers of tissue until no cancer cells remain. While it remains unclear exactly when the procedure was performed or what type of skin cancer was treated, his office noted that he is "recovering well."
This is not the first time Biden has dealt with skin-related issues. In February 2023, a basal cell carcinoma was removed from his chest following a routine health screening. His physician, Kevin O'Connor, stated at the time: "As expected, the biopsy confirmed that the small lesion was basal cell carcinoma. All cancerous tissue was successfully removed. No further treatment is required."
His wife, Dr. Jill Biden has also faced similar health challenges. In 2023, she had two basal cell carcinomas removed from near her eye and her chest. The Biden family's history with cancer is longstanding; in 2015, Biden's eldest son, Beau, died from brain cancer.
Beyond skin cancer, Biden revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. According to his office, the disease was discovered after he sought medical advice for urinary symptoms. His physicians confirmed that the cancer had spread to his bones and carried a Gleason score of nine, meaning it was "likely to grow quickly."
A statement at the time emphasized that "while this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management."
Biden himself addressed the diagnosis publicly, writing on social media: "Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support."
Throughout his political career, Biden has made cancer research and treatment a central focus. His 2022 "cancer moonshot" initiative sought to cut cancer deaths in half over 25 years, continuing efforts he had championed during his vice presidency.
