Former U.S. President Joe Biden has undergone surgery to treat skin cancer, his spokeswoman confirmed this week. Biden, 82, received Mohs surgery, a precise procedure in which layers of cancerous skin are removed until no abnormal cells remain. The former president had recently been seen with a wound on the right side of his head, sparking public speculation before the announcement.
This is not the first time Biden has dealt with skin cancer. In 2023, doctors removed a cancerous lesion from his chest during a routine health screening. He has also had several non-melanoma skin cancers removed in the past, predating his presidency. The latest procedure underscores his continued health challenges, which have been a subject of public concern since he left the White House in January.
Earlier this year, Biden revealed that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. In May, he shared the news 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 Bidens’ advocacy in the fight against cancer has been deeply personal. Their son, Beau Biden, died in 2015 from brain cancer at the age of 46, a loss that profoundly shaped the family’s commitment to cancer awareness and research. Throughout his political career, Biden has emphasized the importance of funding cancer research, famously launching the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative during his vice presidency under Barack Obama.
Since leaving office, Biden has largely stepped back from public life, making only limited appearances. His health updates have drawn significant attention as the former president remains a towering figure in American politics, with decades of public service behind him.
For Biden, the latest surgery represents another chapter in a long and personal battle with cancer one that resonates with millions of families around the world facing similar struggles. While his health has presented new challenges, his message remains consistent: resilience, determination, and the belief that progress in the fight against cancer is possible.
