Former United States President Joe Biden has undergone surgery to remove skin cancer lesions from his forehead, his office confirmed on Thursday, marking the latest in a series of health challenges for the 82-year-old.
The procedure was disclosed by his spokesperson, Kelly Scully, after Inside Edition published footage showing Biden leaving a church service in Delaware with a visible scar on his forehead. Ms Scully said the former president had received Mohs surgery, a precise medical technique in which thin layers of skin are removed and examined until no cancerous cells remain.
The operation is understood to have been carried out recently and follows a history of skin cancer treatment for Biden. Two years ago, while still in office, he had a lesion removed from his chest. That growth was diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, which is typically slow-growing and rarely spreads but can cause significant damage if left untreated.
In addition to his history of skin cancer, Biden has faced other serious health concerns in recent years. In March, his office announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had metastasised to his bones. At the time, he 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.”
The Biden family has endured repeated battles with cancer over the decades. His eldest son, Beau Biden, died in 2015 from a brain tumour at the age of 46, a loss that Biden has frequently described as the most profound tragedy of his life. His wife, Jill Biden, has also faced her own cancer diagnoses, having had two cancerous lesions removed in recent years.
Medical experts describe Mohs surgery as one of the most effective treatments for certain types of skin cancer, particularly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The procedure is valued for its high cure rate and its ability to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible, making it especially suitable for areas such as the face.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with millions of new cases diagnosed each year. Basal cell carcinoma, the type previously removed from Biden’s chest, is linked primarily to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. While it rarely spreads to other parts of the body, early detection and treatment are considered essential to prevent localised damage.
Biden’s health has been a subject of public interest for decades, given his long political career and the demands of the presidency, which he held from January 2021 to January 2025. His medical history has been closely monitored, with regular updates issued by his physicians during his time in office.
The latest surgery comes as Biden continues to maintain a public profile following his departure from the White House. Although no further details were provided about his recovery, Mohs surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis, with most patients able to resume normal activities within days.
The former president has spoken openly about the impact of cancer on his family, using his platform to advocate for increased research funding and improved access to treatment. During his presidency, he relaunched the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, originally introduced during his tenure as vice-president, with the aim of halving cancer deaths over the next 25 years.
While the White House and Biden’s post-presidency office have not commented on whether further treatment will be required following the latest procedure, his spokesperson’s statement indicated that the surgery had successfully removed the affected tissue.
