Joe Biden was recently seen leaving a Delaware church with a visible scar on his forehead. Soon after, his office confirmed he had undergone Mohs surgery, a widely used procedure to remove skin cancer. The surgery, performed quietly, marks yet another chapter in the former president’s long history with cancer.

This comes just months after Biden revealed a far more serious health challenge, an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. While his spokesperson reassured the public that he is recovering well, the combination of two cancers in less than a year has reignited questions about cancer risk, genetics, and what it means when an individual faces multiple cancer diagnoses.

Prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer death in men, with about 1 in 8 men diagnosed in their lifetime. African American men face the highest risk.

Skin cancer, particularly basal cell carcinoma, is the most common cancer in the United States, with millions of cases diagnosed each year. Most are not deadly, but repeated exposure and recurrence are common.

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Medical experts emphasize that both cancers are highly influenced by early detection. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests, regular skin checks, and prompt evaluation of symptoms like urinary changes or new skin lesions remain essential.

According to his team, Biden’s procedure was Mohs micrographic surgery, often used for basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer. The technique removes thin layers of cancerous tissue until only healthy cells remain. It is effective and carries a high cure rate when the cancer is detected early.

Biden has had skin cancer treated before. In 2023, during a routine physical, doctors removed a lesion from his chest that was also identified as basal cell carcinoma. At that time, his physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor confirmed that “all cancerous tissue was successfully removed” and that no further treatment was required.

While skin cancer is common and generally treatable, its recurrence underscores the need for ongoing surveillance. For someone in Biden’s position—82 years old and already facing another major cancer diagnosis—the surgery is more than routine maintenance; it is a reminder of his heightened vulnerability.

Prostate Cancer Spread to the Bones

In May, Biden disclosed that he had been diagnosed with a metastatic form of prostate cancer. His team explained that the cancer was “hormone-sensitive,” meaning it could respond to treatment that suppresses or blocks testosterone, which fuels prostate cancer growth.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide, and its aggressiveness varies. Many men live for years with slow-growing forms. But when it spreads to bones, as in Biden’s case, it becomes significantly harder to control. Treatment focuses on slowing progression, relieving symptoms, and maintaining quality of life.

Biden’s diagnosis brought bipartisan responses: sympathy and calls for resilience from both Democrats and Republicans, mixed with political scrutiny over whether the timing of his disclosure was delayed. For the public, it highlighted not only the seriousness of prostate cancer but also the importance of regular screenings and early detection.

History Of Cancer in the Biden Family

Cancer is not new to the Biden family. Jill Biden, the former first lady, had two basal cell carcinomas removed in 2023. Their son Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, a loss that has profoundly shaped Biden’s public and private life.

In a post following his prostate cancer announcement, Biden wrote, “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places.”

The frequency of cancer diagnoses within his family adds weight to a question many readers have: does family history of cancer increase the risk of other cancers?

Are Skin and Prostate Cancer Linked?

Medically, basal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer are not directly connected. One develops with too much sun exposure and DNA damage to skin cells; the other occurs in the prostate gland, based on age, hormones, and occasionally genetics. However, a previous history of one cancer does increase general alertness for others. Physicians point out that:

Age is the single best predictor. At age 82, Biden's immune system is less capable of fixing DNA damage that can set up cancers.

Family history might contribute to clustering of cancers, but usually of different kinds.

Lifestyle and environmental exposure—tanning and diet, for instance—are cumulative risks that can add up over a lifetime.

In short, although Biden's skin and prostate cancers are not medically related, his age, genetic makeup, and past history of cancers individually put him in a high-risk group.

Multiple Cancers in One Lifetime

Joe Biden's case represents a reality more and more people live with: surviving a first cancer does not erase the possibility of a second. As life expectancy rises and treatments improve, it is becoming increasingly normal for patients to experience two, even three separate cancers in a lifetime.

Family history counts: A robust history of any kind of cancer can increase risk for several kinds.

Screening saves lives: Prostate exams and dermatology checks can identify cancers in their earliest stages, when they are simplest to treat.

Prevention is key: Sunscreen, healthy foods, exercise, and not using tobacco and alcohol all reduce overall cancer risk.

Can Having One Cancer Increase Your Risk of Another?

Most people ask if beating one kind of cancer makes them more susceptible to others. The reply is: having had cancer can raise overall risk, but it varies with genetics, treatment, age, and lifestyle.

1. Genetic Predisposition

Some cancers have inherited mutations that target several organs. Examples include:

• BRCA1/BRCA2: Raise risk for breast, ovarian, prostate cancers.
• Lynch syndrome: Increases risk of colorectal, endometrial, and other cancers.
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome (TP53 mutations): Substantially increases the risk for a variety of cancers at an early age.

Here, one mutation can cause an individual to develop more than one form of cancer in his/her lifetime.

2. Effects of Previous Cancer or Treatment

Some cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation, will modestly increase the risk of developing a subsequent cancer years down the road. This is typically balanced against the cure for the initial cancer.

3. Shared Risk Factors

Aside from a genetic connection, age, lifestyle, and environmental exposures can increase the risk for more than one cancer:

• Smoking and alcohol consumption
• Sunlight exposure and skin damage
• Obesity or diet
• Chronic inflammation or compromised immune system

4. Surveillance Matters

Patients who have already had one cancer are usually followed more closely, which results in the detection of another cancer at an early stage. Routine checkups, screenings, and self-exams are essential.

Having survived one cancer does not mean one is safe from others, but prevention, awareness, and early detection drastically lower risk. Such instances as Joe Biden's, where prostate cancer preceded skin cancer, underscore how a lifetime of vigilance and a doctor's guidance is necessary for a cancer survivor.

Andhra Pradesh may soon follow Australia's steps and ban social media for teenagers under the age of 16 in the state.

Nara Lokesh, Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Real Time Governance and Human Resources Development Minister for Andhra Pradesh, told Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum 2026 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland: "As a state, we are studying Australia’s under-16 law, and yes, I believe we need to create a strong legal enactment.

"Youngsters below a certain age should not be on such platforms, as they do not fully understand the content they are exposed to. Thus, a strong legal framework may be required."

Also Read: Chikungunya Spreads Across Tamil Nadu: All You Need To Know

TDP national spokesperson Deepak Reddy supported Lokesh's claim and stated: "Children below a certain age are not emotionally mature enough to comprehend the negative and harmful content that is freely available online. That is why the Andhra government is studying global best practices and examining Australia's under-16 social media law."

If implemented successfully, Andhra Pradesh would be the first Indian state to issue the ban and could pave the way for other states to consider such policies. State officials are yet to clarify when the rule will be implemented and if any fines will be attached to it.

Is Any Other State Considering a Ban?

The petition was to emphasize on the awareness of the stakeholders and parental windows in the device that could control the menace of pornographic material which is easily accessible to children. The court asked Centre to order internet provider service companies to provide a 'Parental Window' to prevent children from accessing such content.

The Madurai Bench of Justices G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan told the authorities of child rights to accelerate this matter. The bench also noted that children could only be prevented from consuming such content only if there is a parental control app on the device.

Judges also noted that parents have a higher responsibility in this, as children are highly vulnerable to such content.

READ MORE: Australia Social Media Ban Explained: Why Government Plans to Restrict Accounts of Under-16s

What Did Australia Do?

To protect the mental health of children, Australia has successfully banned several social media apps including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, and streaming platforms Kick and Twitch.

YouTube Kids, Google Classroom and WhatsApp are not covered under this rule as they do not fit those criteria.

While anyone under 16 will be still able to watch most of the content without logging in, however, they cannot have an account on it. Critics are urging the government to widen the ban to include online gaming platforms such as Roblox and Discord, which are currently not covered.

The government says that it will also reduce the negative impact of social media's "design features that encourage [young people] to spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm their health and wellbeing".

A government study which was commissioned in 2025 found that 96% of children aged 10 to 15 used social media, and that seven out of 10 of them were exposed to harmful content. These content were misogynistic and violent in its nature, furthermore, content promoted eating disorders and suicide.

Children and parents will not be punished for infringing the ban, instead, social media companies will face fines of up to A$49.5m, which is equivalent of US$32m for serious or repeated breaches.

The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) has issued a statewide alert across Tamil Nadu due to a sudden uptick in chikungunya cases in multiple cities.

Cases have been reported across Chennai, Villupuram, Tenkasi, Theni, Cuddalore, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ariyalur. It remains unknown how many people have been affected and if any deaths have occurred.

Caused by the chikungunya virus, chikungunya virus disease (CHIKVD) is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) to humans. The illness usually starts with flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, joint pain and rashes.

Also Read: This Is Why Emmanuel Macron Wore Sunglasses At Davos

Typically, the illness has no clear no symptoms, especially in children and can easily be misdiagnosed as dengue and Zika. While there are no specific antiviral treatments for chikungunya virus infections, medications such as antipyretic and analgesic medications (such as paracetamol) for fever and pain can be used to ease the pain.

Most patients recover completely from the infection, but occasional cases of eye, heart, and neurological complications have been previously been reported with CHIKV infections.

What Are Tamil Nadu Officials Doing To Contain Cases?

Authorities have also emphasized that all government and private hospitals as well as diagnostic laboratories, need to timely report cases to ensure the infection does not spread . Any delay in reporting, officials noted, could allow the virus to spread rapidly within communities.

On the local level, district entomologists and health inspectors have been told to eliminate stagnant water in artificial containers and conduct weekly mass-cleaning drives in high-risk areas.

The DPH has also ordered that all designated dengue and chikungunya wards in hospitals be kept mosquito-free, with adequate bed strength and sufficient mosquito nets for patients.

READ MORE: What Is Chikungunya And How Can It Be Prevented?

Can Chikungunya Spread Easily?

Cases typically emerge mostly in the Americas, Asia and Africa and occasionally in Europe. However, nearly 30,000 CHIKVD cases have been recorded, including 83 associated deaths from 12 countries namely from China, Singapore, Pakistan, France, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, marking it as one of the biggest outbreaks in the world.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. As he spoke on the European solidarity amid US President Donald Trumps' treat to annex Greenland, something else seemed to take the attention away. Macron was seen wearing a pair of blue-tinted mirrored aviator sunglasses. The surprising part was that he wore it indoors. French media had already reported that he was seen wearing sunglasses since last week.

Trump also mocked Emmanuel Macron’s sunglasses during his speech at Davos, joking, “what the hell happened?” regarding the French president’s appearance.

Also Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: After Two West Bengal Cases, Tests On Bats Show No Active Infection

Why Was Emmanuel Macron Wearing Sunglasses Indoors?

On Monday, Macron said that reflective glasses were to disguise a minor eye injury that he had sustained after having been spotted with a heavily bloodshot right eye. "Apologies for the shades, but I have to wear them for a while". He further said that it is for a "mild eye condition".

Last week, when he appeared at a military event in southern France with red eye, while addressing the troop, he said, it was "totally benign" and "completely insignificant", he also added, "Please pardon the unsightly appearance of my eye". He also joked about it, calling it "l'oiel du tigre" or the "eye of the tiger". This was a reference to rock band Survivor's song used in the 1982 boxing moving Rocky III. He said, "For those who get the reference, it is a sign of determination".

What Happened To Macron's Eyes?

As per the French media reports, Macron appeared to have a sub-conjunctival hemorrhage. This means there is a broken blood vessel in his eyes. It is harmless, painless, and does not affect the vision. It also cannot cause permanent injury to the eye, and clears within a fortnight.

Macron Wears Sunglasses Indoor: Is It Absolutely Necessary?

Medical doctor and media commentator Jimmy Mohamed told French broadcaster RTL that Macron "opted for this style for aesthetic reasons, because he is a public figure. However, sunglasses are not necessary to protect vision in this condition. Some people wear it to avoid attracting attention.

"Some people might think he's ill, so to avoid being photographed in that state, he decided to wear sunglasses. The glasses protect his image, but not really his eye," said Jimmy Mohamed.

Read: Why Can't I Hear When I Take My Glasses Off?

How Have Netizen Reacted To Macron Wearing Sunglasses?

He has been called 'kéké', which is a French slang for a show off. Others also joked about him being a "cyborg" or emulating Hollywood actor Top Cruise in Top Gun, the 1986 movie that made wearing aviators a fashion statement.

What Is Sub-conjunctival hemorrhage?

Sub-conjunctival hemorrhage or SCH is a common ocular condition defined by extravasation of blood beneath the conjunctiva, producing a sharply demarcated red patch on the scleral surface. The condition is usually painless and does not impair vision. It usually resolves within 1 to 2 weeks, making it a frequent but benign cause of ocular redness.

It usually happens by a sudden pressure increase from coughing, sneezing, vomiting, or heavy lifting. This could rupture tiny eye blood vessels, or from eye trauma like rubbing or foreign bodies, and can be linked to risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, blood thinners, or even childbirth in newborns.