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Radio DJ Chris Evans has revealed he’s been diagnosed with skin cancer.
The UK broadcaster, 57, shared the news with his listeners during his Virgin Radio show on Monday morning.
Luckily, he confirmed that the cancer had been found in the early stages.
Chris also said he was hopeful for a full recovery with skin cancer being one of the more treatable forms of the illness.
He is set to undergo treatment next month.
Talking on his breakfast show, he explained: ‘I’ve just got to talk briefly about my biopsy for the skin cancer issue.
‘So, the best news that I got whilst I was away is that it was a positive test, so I have tested positive for skin cancer.
‘Obviously better news would have been [that it was] negative. But the reason it’s great news is because they’ve caught it as early as they can, as early as is possible.’
He also confirmed he had melanoma, adding: ‘There’s this phrase called a malignant melanoma – you know once you get something and you find out all about it – that is a redundant phrase because if it is a melanoma, it is malignant.’
‘But it’s been caught so early, just so you know, that it should be completely treatable.’
According to the broadcaster, that is set to happen ‘on the 14th of September’ with an operation to remove ‘a small square of skin’.
The keen runner, who took part in the London Marathon this year, will also not be allowed to partake in his favourite form of exercise for around four weeks after the procedure.
What is melanoma skin cancer?
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body. The main cause of melanoma is ultraviolet light, which comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds.
Things that increase your chances of getting melanoma include:
- your age
- having pale skin
- having a large number of moles
- a family history of skin cancer
It is often possible to prevent skin cancer by being careful in the sun and by wearing and reapplying sunscreen regularly. In addition, wearing a hat and favouring the shade can help.
Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma, according to the NHS.
He quipped that he will ‘do nothing but run’ until then.
The former BBC Radio 1 and 2 presenter told listeners that he got tested because his masseuse, whom he described as an ‘angel sent from Heaven’, encouraged him to go after she spotted an unusual looking freckle on his skin.
Chris previously had a skin cancer scare back in 2019 when he found worrying marks on his body.
He explained that the hot summer that year as well as ‘high levels of UV’ had raised concerns for him.
The expert doctor he saw told him at that time that he had ‘nothing to worry about’ but that he should have annual checks ‘just because of your complexion’.
With his latest news, Chris encouraged his audience to ‘check your bits and bobs’ as he reminded them that early detection is ‘the biggest weapon in your arsenal’.
In 2015, the star was also given the all-clear following a prostate cancer scare.
Chris’s health was last in the headlines in 2021 as he was forced to miss his Virgin Radio show for two weeks after being taken to hospital to undergo surgery to treat painful kidney stones.
He has been married to former pro golfer and ex model Natasha Shishmanian, 43, since 2007, with who he shares 14-year-old son Noah, Eli, 10, and four-year-old twins Walt and Boo.
He was previously married to former Loose Women star Carol McGiffin from 1991 until 1998, although they separated in 1993.
After that, he tied the knot with Doctor Who actress Billie Piper, who was then a chart-topping pop idol and aged 18 to his 35, after six months of dating.
The couple called it quits in 2004, but the split remained amicable.
Last year, Billie spoke highly of her time with Chris and admitted she ‘loved it’ and ‘learned so much’ from their relationship, adding that it felt like she had ‘found a real friend’ in her then-husband.
‘I guess meeting someone who had experienced [fame] for 20 years, at that level, it was very nurturing. And also very drunken, which I needed. I had a lot of fun during those years,’ the I Hate Suzie star told The Guardian.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
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