The White House acknowledged late Monday that first lady Laura Bush had a skin cancer tumor removed from her right shin in early November but decided against revealing it publicly. The cancer was a squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer, said Susan Whitson, her press secretary. This medical procedure was a private matter for Mrs. Bush, but when asked by the media today, we answered the question, Whitson said. The statement came after reporters noticed the first lady wearing a bandage on her right leg before the election. At the time Whitson said Mrs. Bush had a sore on her shin. In late October, Mrs. Bush had a biopsy because the sore was not healing, Whitson said, and it was determined to be a carcinoma. Whitson said Mrs. Bush s tumor was removed under a local anesthetic, and described it as a little surgical procedure. It s no big deal. She detected it early. She caught it early, Whitson added. No further treatment was needed. It s healing fine and it has not interrupted her schedule at all, Whitson said. In 2001, President Bush had four lesions removed from his face. None of the four were cancerous, the White House said.
