First lady Bush treated for form of skin cancer

WASHINGTON, Dec 19: First lady Laura Bush was treated for skin cancer on her leg last month, her spokeswoman said.

Mrs Bush did not appear to have difficulty walking at a Hanukkah reception at the White House yesterday but a bandage was visible below her right knee.

Mrs Bush had a biopsy of a small sore on her leg in late October, revealing a squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common type of skin cancer, Susan Whitson, spokeswoman for the first lady, told Reuters.

Mrs Bush had the small growth removed from the shin area of her right leg shortly after Election Day on November 7, she said.

''Because of Mrs. Bush's early detection and treatment, the area on her leg is healing well and it has not interrupted her schedule,'' Whitson said.

Mrs Bush had the growth removed before she and President George W Bush went to Asia later in November, Whitson said.

Reuters