A Fox TV news anchor discovered this week that he had skin cancer during a live TV segment.
Mike Jerrick, co-host of « Good Day Philadelphia » on FOX29, was broadcasting a skin care segment with Dr. Joanna Walker, a dermatologist with the Tara Miller Melanoma Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
As they discussed the importance of checking the skin for signs of cancer, Walker inspected a spot on Jerrick’s right elbow, pronouncing that it was basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer.
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« It has all the features of the most common type of skin cancer, which is also very treatable when it’s caught early, » Walker said in the segment.
Jerrick expressed surprise, asking, « What are you going to do to it, burn it off? »
The dermatologist replied that the cancerous spot most likely needs to be « cut and stitched. »
The good news, she said, is that basal cell is a « very slow-growing type of skin cancer » that’s not likely to spread anywhere else on the body.
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« But you do need to remove it so it doesn’t keep growing and take over normal skin, » Walker advised.
Jerrick spoke with Fox News Digital about the revelation, noting that it was a complete surprise to him.
« I did say that we should have her bring her [micro]scope because I wanted to check out a couple of things on my arms, so that part was planned, but I never really thought it was going to be skin cancer, » he said.
The dermatologist recognized it right away, Jerrick shared.
« When she blurted it out, I didn’t get alarmed or anything, » Jerrick said. « It was just like, ‘Oh dang, I should have done this a long time ago.’ »
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« 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. »
Jerrick is scheduled to have the cancerous spot removed on Friday.
« I should be fine, » he said. « She’ll just suture me up and I’ll be on my way. »
Many people have reached out to thank Jerrick for airing the segment.
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To those with similar markings or skin changes, « it’s important to get those checked, » he advised.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, affecting about 3.6 million Americans each year, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/health/tv-host-discovers-he-has-skin-cancer-during-live-on-air-broadcast
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Publish date : 2025-06-04 21:26:00
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