The White House announced that US President Joe Biden had a benign polyp removed during his routine colonoscopy that was “potentially pre-cancerous”.
Biden’s physician, Dr Kevin O’Connor, said in a statement that the president had a single, three-millimeter polyp removed from his ascending colon during the procedure that took place last week.
O’Connor, who has been the president’s physician since his time as vice president, said that the growth was identified as tubular adenoma, a benign and slow-growing lesion, that is “thought to be potentially precancerous” after being sent for a histologic examination.
The doctor characterized the growth as “a potentially precancerous lesion” and recommended continued “routine surveillance.” The lesion is similar to a polyp Biden had removed during a 2008 colonoscopy.
He released Biden’s results with permission from the president and said that no further action was needed around Biden’s health at this time but he should undergo another colonoscopy in seven to 10 years.
“The President has never had colon cancer,” O’Connor said in a report.
The Mayo Clinic defines a colon polyp as a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are harmless, but some colon polyps can develop into colon cancer over time.
“The best prevention for colon cancer is regular screening for and removal of polyps,” the clinic advises.
Biden underwent anesthesia for his colonoscopy at Walter Reed Medical Center, handing over presidential powers to Vice President Kamala Harris who became the first woman and Asian American to hold the U.S. presidency for 85 minutes.
Presidents routinely invoke the 25th Amendment, which temporarily transfers power to the vice president, while under anesthesia. President George W. Bush did so twice, transferring power to Dick Cheney when he underwent colonoscopies in 2002 and 2007.
Donald Trump’s former press secretary heavily implied the former president underwent an undeclared colonoscopy in 2019 but skipped anesthesia to avoid transferring power to his then-vice president Mike Pence.
Biden had his physical a day before his 79th birthday and a report on the results of his physical was released on Friday afternoon stating that the “president remains fit for duty”.
O’Connor singled out two areas of “observation” he set aside for detailed investigation: an “increasing frequency and severity of “throat-clearing” and coughing during speaking engagements” and the President’s ambulatory gait, or walking abnormality, which O’Connor said was “perceptibly stiffer and less fluid than it was a year or so ago.”
The president admitted to experiencing “stiffness” in the morning. The physician also amounted the stiffen to several “orthopedic and sports-related injuries over the years” and a fracture in his right foot from a year ago. His stiffness was mainly found to be due to aging after undergoing a series of tests.
“President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 78-year-old man, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those of Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief,” O’Connor wrote in the memo.
The public became increasingly concerned with the president’s health recently after he was seen several times looking confused and tripping up the steps of Air Force One.
A Politico/Morning Consult survey published last week found that around 50 percent of registered voters disagreed with the statement “Joe Biden is in good health,” while only 40 percent agreed and 10 percent had no opinion.
The poll also found that approximately 48 percent of voters disagreed with the statement “Joe Biden is mentally fit,” while 46 percent agreed and 6 percent had no opinion.
The numbers are similar to a Harvard-Harris poll from last month which found that 53 percent of voters have doubts about the president’s fitness, while 47 percent do not. The survey also found that 58 percent of respondents said Biden was too old to be president, while 42 percent felt he was fit enough for the job.
According to his health summary released by the White House, Biden is being treated for several “stable” medical conditions including non-valvular atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux, seasonal allergies, spinal arthritis, and “mild” sensory peripheral neuropathy of both feet.
Biden, who turned 79 on Sunday, is now the oldest person to ever serve as president, remains healthy and fit to serve.