CHRIS Evans has urged fans to get checked for skin cancer after revealing his own diagnosis.
The Virgin Radio host and TV presenter has shared how he has regular checks at the doctors but still missed a malignant growth on his leg.
Eight years ago he was given the all-clear following a prostate cancer scare.
But the fear of cancer remains at the forefront of the star’s mind, after losing his dad and two uncles died from colon cancer and his late mum battled breast cancer.
He adds: “For years I was such a scaredy cat – but I’ve had things taken out of me before that had resulted in the deaths of my dad, his two brothers and my mum – cancer has had enough of us.
“I changed my thinking a while ago – when I went to the toilet and there was clearly something very wrong.
“And up until that moment I was fearful of any possible test you could have done.
“For some reason this happened and it was so patently obvious.
“I finished what I was doing and I went and phoned my GP straight away and it was like a revelation for me.
“It was like an epiphany. I was like, ‘Yes – I’ll get checked!’
“I now get checked too often for a couple of things my doctor says.
“So with this I went on holiday not knowing the answer, I was thinking it would probably be all clear but I had the biopsy anyway.
“The anxiety I had leading up to the email to tell me about the biopsy was far worse than being told the results.
“Much, much worse.
“What I realised then was, I don’t like not knowing.
“It is funny because you go for the really invasive checks and the initially embarrassing ones with your stools and stuff – then you get this seamlessly harmless freckle on the back of your calf and you think, it’s probably nothing – but it can be.
“Caught at this stage in situ, you know, only a fool would ever want cancer, but if you have to have a cancer, this is the one you want because it is stage zero.
“But it is morphing and it will move.
“One example of why it’s an extraordinary thing to look for, is there is a high percentage of men who tragically lose their lives to melanomas which they don’t see them because they’re on their backs.
“And they’re single men. You don’t see your back that often.
“And if it’s in your back in the middle of your shoulder blades, unless you have a partner or play in a sports team, it is unlikely you will see that, ever.
“Unless you check for it on purpose. Get your partner to check you, it might be more fun.”
