British TV presenter Adrian Chiles (58) has publicly shared his recent skin cancer diagnosis. In a column for, he described how doctors identified a “lump” on his arm as squamous cell carcinoma, a common form of non-melanoma skin cancer.
It is a type of cancer that in most cases does not spread to other parts of the body and is more treatable than melanoma. Nevertheless, experts emphasize that treatment is essential, as an untreated disease can be life-threatening. Chiles said the tumor had already been removed and “is not going to spread.”
In this regard, the British National Health Service (NHS) recalls that early detection of skin cancer significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. The main symptom of non-melanoma cancer is an unusual growth or spot on the skin, reports the diary. It most often appears in places exposed to the sunespecially on the head, face and ears, neck and shoulders, back, arms and lower limbs.
“Growths and spots can vary in colour, size and texture,” says the NHS. Typical manifestations may include: smooth, raised lesions with clear borders, rough, bumpy or crusty tumors, flat pigmented spots, red, brown, purple discoloration, darker spots on darker skin, itching, roughness or scabs.
According to the NHS, people should see their GP straight away if they develop a growth on the skin that grows or changes color and texture, if the area on the skin itches, hurts, bleeds, scabs or does not heal for more than 4 weeks.
It is a more dangerous form of skin cancer melanoma that has the ability to spread to other organs. Its main symptom is a new sign or a change in an existing sign. Warning signs of melanoma are irregular shape or edges of the mole, multi-colored coloring, size larger than 6 mm, gradual changes in appearance, pain, itching, bleeding or crusting. At the same time, doctors warn about dark spots under the nail that did not arise as a result of an accident.
