By Peter Omopo
September 5, 2025
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has undergone surgery to treat skin cancer, his spokesperson confirmed on Thursday.
The 82-year-old was recently seen in public with a bandage and visible scar on his forehead, prompting speculation about his health. His team later clarified that Biden underwent Mohs surgery, a precise procedure in which thin layers of skin are removed to ensure all cancerous cells are eliminated while preserving healthy tissue. The exact type of skin cancer treated was not disclosed.
The operation came to light after Biden was filmed leaving a church in Delaware over the Labor Day weekend. Spokesperson Kelly Scully said the goal of the procedure was to fully remove the cancer while minimising skin damage.
This is not Biden’s first battle with skin cancer. In 2023, while serving as president, he had a basal cell carcinoma lesion removed from his chest. Earlier this year, in May 2025, Biden revealed he had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. Despite the challenges, he has maintained a positive outlook, often sharing personal reflections 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,” Biden wrote recently.
The Biden family has long been touched by cancer. His late son, Beau Biden, died of a brain tumour in 2015, while First Lady Jill Biden had two cancerous skin lesions removed in 2023.
Health experts stress that Biden’s experience underscores the importance of regular screening and early detection. According to the American Cancer Society, early intervention significantly increases treatment success for skin cancer, prostate cancer, and other forms of the disease.
At 82, Biden remains the oldest living former U.S. president and continues to make public appearances while carefully managing his health.
