A doctor has shared some insights into Joe Biden’s skin cancer surgery after possible side effects were revealed.
Kelly Scully, a spokesperson for the 82-year-old politician and former US President, revealed that he recently underwent surgery to remove skin cancer lesions, just months after his office announced in May that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
Scully shared the news after a video was released of Biden leaving a church in Delaware with a fresh scar on his forehead, explaining that he had received Mohs surgery.
Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor has since explained a little more about the ins and outs of such a procedure to Tyla: "Mohs surgery, which President Joe Biden underwent for his skin cancer, is a very well-established and generally safe procedure.
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"The risks are relatively low compared with other surgical techniques, as it is carried out under local anaesthetic rather than a general anaesthetic."
According to the expert, this makes it suitable 'even for older patients' or those with other health conditions.
Dr Wylie did, however, outline: "Like any surgery, there is a small chance of bleeding, infection, scarring or delayed wound healing, but these complications are uncommon.
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"The major advantage of Mohs surgery is that it offers the highest cure rates for certain types of skin cancer, particularly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, while preserving as much healthy skin as possible."
Two years ago, while Biden was in office, he had a lesion removed from his chest.
The lesion was basal cell carcinoma, which is a common form of skin cancer that Chef Gordon Ramsay has recently been treated for, too.
Sharing further details about the 'meticulous' process, which takes place in stages during the same appointment, the doctor explained: "First, the visible tumour and a very thin surrounding layer of tissue are removed.
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"This tissue is then immediately examined under a microscope to check for any remaining cancer cells. If cancer cells are still present at the edges, another thin layer is removed from the specific area affected."
She continued: "This process is repeated layer by layer until all the cancer cells have been cleared. Because the tissue is checked as the surgery progresses, the surgeon can be confident that only cancerous cells are removed, which minimises unnecessary removal of healthy tissue.
"Once the skin cancer is fully excised, the wound is either left to heal naturally, closed with stitches, or reconstructed with a skin graft or flap, depending on its size and location."
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According to the Mayo Clinic, possible side effects of Mohs surgery include:
- Bleeding
- Pain or tenderness around the places where surgery was done
- Infection
Other problems that can happen are less common. They may include:
- Temporary or permanent numbness of the surgical area. This can happen if small nerve endings are cut.
- Temporary or permanent weakness of the surgical area. This can happen if a muscle nerve is cut to remove a large skin cancer.
- Shooting pain in the area.
- A large scar.
Topics: Health, Explained, Joe Biden, US News, Cancer, Politics
Rhiannon Ingle