With one in two US men getting cancer at some point in their lives, most of us fear the day we will get the news. However, being told live on air that you have a type of skin cancer isn’t how most people expect to find out.
During a segment on Good Day Philadelphia for Fox28, a dermatologist was in, talking about skincare. Host, Mike Jerrick, was chatting to Dr. Joanna Walker, a dermatologist, about the importance of checking the skin for signs. It was while using the TV host as an example that she found the early signs of skin cancer.
While examining his skin live on air, she came across a darker mark near his elbow. After some closer inspection, she informed him that it was a common form of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma. These are common, very slow-growing, and can be treated relatively easily, to the relief of Jerrick.
TV Host Has Little To Worry About From The Live Skin Cancer Discovery
The host, on his discovery of skin cancer, kept his cool for the live TV audience. “When she blurted it out, I didn’t get alarmed or anything,” Mike Jerrick said on his show. “It was just like, ‘Oh dang, I should have done this a long time ago. I was more shocked that she said she was going to cut it out instead of burn it off — that’s where I got surprised.”
The guest dermatologist reassured him that there wasn’t too much to worry about. Despite it seeming very alarming, due to the nature of the skin cancer and ease of treatment, it was a simple process to remove.
Explaining the type of skin cancer, she said it was a “very slow-growing type of skin cancer that’s not likely to spread anywhere else on the body. But you do need to remove it so it doesn’t keep growing and take over normal skin.”
With such a high percentage of people being diagnosed with cancer every year, people must get checked regularly. Skin cancer, or melanoma, is incredibly common. Any new spots, lumps, or discoloration should be brought to the attention of a professional.