Politics

Bush Has Lesions Removed

December 17, 2001 / 2:38 PM EST / AP

President Bush had four lesions removed from his face last week, including two that are pre-cancerous but not a threat to the president's health, the White House said Monday.

Press secretary Ari Fleischer said the lesions were removed with liquid nitrogen during a brief procedure Friday at the White House. The president had one lesion on each cheek, his forehead and temple.

The two lesions on his cheek are actinic keratoses, a common ailment in people Mr. Bush's age that can develop into cancer. In August, during his first physical as president, doctors at Bethesda Naval Hospital removed three small actinic lesions from Mr. Bush.

The lesions were removed from Mr. Bush's cheek as a precaution, and are no threat to the president's health, Fleischer said.

Also on Friday, the White House doctor removed a lesion on Mr. Bush's forehead and another on his temple. Fleischer said they were seborrheic keratoses — waxy- or scaly-looking growths that are not cancerous and become very common as people age. This type of lesion typically isn't removed unless they become irritated or for cosmetic reasons.

Fleischer disclosed the procedure after reporters noticed spots on the president's face during an afternoon appearance celebrating the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr.

"For a man his age, when you're out in the sun a lot as a young man, I'm told this is extremely common," the spokesman said.