New York (1010 WINS/WBEN) – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday that skin cancer was found on her nose, and she will undergo a biopsy this week to remove it and confirm it's cancerous.
"My doctor discovered a basal cell carcinoma," the governor told reporters in New York City. "A tiny, tiny speck on my nose, you can’t even see it."
Basal cell carcinomas are among the most common and easily treated forms of cancer, especially when caught early. They’re usually slow-growing and don’t tend to metastasize like melanoma but are removed as a precaution and to avoid complications.
"I’m going to have a small removal procedure," Hochul said. "I’m not going under, it’s a local anesthesia. It will be occurring Friday morning. I’ll be back to work about an hour later. But there will be a bandage on my nose."
Basal cell carcinoma is usually confined to the surface of skin — doctors almost always can remove it all with a shallow incision — and seldom causes serious complications or becomes life-threatening. Doctors advise getting any suspicious skin lesions checked out.
"I want to make sure everybody’s smart about this. Use your suntan lotion. Make sure your kids are protected."
Both President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden had basal cell carcinomas removed last year.