Former United States President Joe Biden, 82, recently underwent surgery to remove a skin cancer, his office has confirmed. The procedure, which was not immediately announced to the public, is part of the former president’s long battle with different types of cancer diagnosed in recent years. Although the exact date of the operation was not revealed, it became known that at the end of August Biden was photographed with a visible bandage on his forehead, fueling speculation about a new medical treatment.
The surgical intervention consisted of the technique known as Mohs surgery, a highly specialized procedure used to treat skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma. This method allows surgeons to remove thin layers of skin and examine them microscopically on the spot, layer by layer, until no cancer cells remain. The technique is considered one of the most effective, as it combines surgical precision with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
According to his medical team, Biden is recovering well following the intervention. This is not Biden’s first episode with skin cancer. In 2023 he had already been treated for a basal cell carcinoma, one of the most common and generally treatable types of cancer. However, his medical history became more complex when in May of this year he also announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive and advanced prostate cancer, with metastasis to the bones.
Specialists emphasized at the time that while the condition was serious, it remained treatable with current medical resources. Beyond his health status, former President Biden continues to be a figure of great political relevance in the United States. After leaving office in January, he became the oldest president in the country’s history. At first, he intended to run again in the 2024 elections and even began campaign activities.
However, growing doubts about his physical and mental condition eventually led him to withdraw his candidacy. In his place, then Vice President Kamala Harris took the Democratic nomination, though she ultimately lost to Donald Trump. The news of his most recent surgery has reignited the debate about the delicate balance between health and political life in elderly figures.
For some analysts, Biden’s transparency about his illnesses strengthens his image of honesty before the public, while others believe that the lack of immediate details generates uncertainty. In any case, the former president’s recovery is being closely watched by both supporters and critics, in a country where the health of its leaders often has a strong political and media impact.
