White House clarifies after Biden appears to say he has cancer

Speaking on climate change in the US state of Massachusetts, Biden recalled growing up next to a series of oil refineries in his home state of Delaware, saying they were responsible for pervasive pollution in the area.

"That's why I and so damn many other people I grew up with have cancer, and why, for the longest time, Delaware had the highest cancer rate in the nation," he said as he emphasised the need to shift away from fossil fuels, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates said the president was referring to non-melanoma skin cancers that were removed before he assumed office.

A summary of the president's health released in November said Biden had "several localised, non-melanoma skin cancers removed" prior to his presidency, adding there were not any "areas suspicious for skin cancer at this time."

No biopsies were required, it added.

"This is what the President was referring to," Bates said on Twitter.