A spokesperson for former U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed to NBC News on Thursday that Biden recently underwent surgery to remove cancerous skin cells. His personal office indicated that he is recovering well from the procedure known as Mohs surgery, which is commonly used to treat the most common types of skin cancer. This surgery involves removing layers of skin affected by cancer until all cancerous cells are eliminated.

It is unclear exactly when Biden had the surgery, but media outlets captured photos of him leaving a church in Greenville, Delaware, late last month, showing a large visible wound on his head.

Biden, 82, previously underwent a similar surgery during his presidency when his doctor removed a cancerous skin tumor from his chest during a routine medical exam in 2023. Laboratory analysis identified the tumor as basal cell carcinoma, one of the most common types of skin cancer, which can also be treated with Mohs surgery. The doctor confirmed at the time that “all cancerous tissue was successfully removed” and no further treatment was needed.

Former First Lady Jill Biden also had two cancerous skin tumors removed in 2023, one above the eye and another on the chest, both diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma.

In May, Biden revealed a diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer that had spread to the bones. His office confirmed that he is exploring several treatment options to ensure “effective management” of the disease, noting that the cancer appears to be “hormone-sensitive,” meaning it is likely to respond to treatment.