Cancer is a disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide every year. Annual screenings can aid in the detection of cancers and other areas of concern, allowing for early treatment. During one of these visits, doctors discovered that First Lady Jill Biden had some concerning lesions.
Mrs. Biden had three different tumors removed using Mohs surgery, according to White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor: one above her right eye, one on her chest, and one on her left eyelid. The first two were determined to be basal cell carcinoma (BCC), while the third was excised and inspected under a microscope.
BREAKING: Surgeons removed a cancerous lesion above first lady Jill Biden's right eye, as well as another cancerous lesion on her chest, the White House says. https://t.co/1C2DzLgCIz
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 11, 2023
Mohs surgery is a sort of procedure that removes the lesion by removing numerous layers of skin tissue one at a time until the layer is free of cancer cells. It’s usually done as an outpatient procedure.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, said the First Lady was in excellent spirits and doing well despite some bruising and swelling that is usual of the treatment.
Update from Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Physician to the President, following the First Lady’s Mohs surgery today: pic.twitter.com/2dxyDCCeeQ
— Vanessa Valdivia (@vvaldivia46) January 11, 2023
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation website, BCC is the most common of all skin cancers and, in fact, is the most common diagnosis of all malignancies. According to estimates, around 3.6 million cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.
According to Medlineplus.gov, those with blonde/red hair, blue/green/gray eyes, or who have had repeated severe sunburns in their younger years are more likely to acquire BCC. Smoking weakened immune systems and having received photodynamic therapy for previous tumors are all risk factors for getting the condition.
Furthermore, the site suggests that if BCC is detected and treated early, the prognosis is favorable. According to the Canadian Cancer Society website, the five-year survival rate for BCC is 100%, which is fantastic news for the first lady and her family.
