Gordon Ramsay has revealed that he underwent surgery to remove a type of non-melanoma skin cancer.
The celebrity chef, 58, took to Instagram on Saturday (30 August) to share pictures of his stitched-up ear to his followers.
In the caption, Ramsay said he 'grateful and so appreciative' of his medical team who were able to react fast to remove basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common form of skin cancer.
Compared with melanoma, which is aggressive and can spread quickly to other organs, non-melanoma skin cancer grows slowly and usually causes local skin damage rather than life-threatening illness.
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According to the American Cancer Society, it starts in the bottom section of the top layer of skin, called the epidermis, which makes new skin cells.
It usually shows up on sun-exposed areas like your face or head and may look like a shiny bump, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a flat pale patch.
BCC grows slowly and can be cured by surgery if found early, as was the case with the Hell's Kitchen star.
"Grateful and so appreciative for the incredible team at The Skin Associates and their fast reactive work on removing this Basal Cell Carcinoma thank you!" Ramsay wrote.
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Issuing an important reminder, he added: "Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend," then joking: "I promise you it’s not a face lift! I’d need a refund."
Cancer Research UK also commented on the post: “Glad to hear you’re doing well, Gordon, and thanks for raising awareness of how important it is to stay safe in the sun.
“Seek shade, cover up, and apply sunscreen regularly and generously.”
The charity says on their website that 'there are around 17,500 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year', which is around 48 every day, according to stats from 2017-2019.
How often should you use sunscreen?
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You should wear sunscreen whenever the UV index is 3 or higher, even if it feels cool or cloudy outside.
Alan Geller, a trained nurse and skin cancer prevention researcher, told Harvard: "Start by applying sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors.
"Then reapply at least every two hours, and more often—every 80 minutes—if you’re sweating or swimming. The key is to use sunscreen on all skin not covered by clothing.
"This includes the tops of your feet, your neck, your ears, and the top of your head."
He added: "One third of melanoma in men is on the back and 20% of melanoma in women is on the back of the legs; these are key areas to apply sunscreen to if you’re not covering them with clothing.
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"Skin cancer also can form on the lips, so make sure to apply a lip balm that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher."
Topics: Celebrity, Health, Cancer, Gordon Ramsay
Anish Vij