Ninja, the top streamer on Twitch, reveals he has been diagnosed with skin cancer

Tyler Blevins, the video game star known as Ninja, revealed this week that he has been diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

Mr. Blevins, 32 years old he said on social media on Tuesday He had a mole removed from his foot during an annual checkup with a dermatologist a few weeks ago.

“It has come back as melanoma, but they are optimistic that we caught it in the early stages,” he said.

In the post, Mr Blevins said a second dark spot was found on his foot which had also been removed and was being examined, “hoping that under the microscope they will see clear edges other than skin cancer and we will know we have it.” “.

His huge online following led to his emergence in 2019, Disguised as a character called “Ice Cream”, On the Fox competition show “The Masked Singer.” In 2018, He played Fortnite with Ellen DeGeneres On “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

Skin cancer is common and often survivable. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas, the most common types of skin cancer, can be disfiguring but are rarely fatal.

Melanoma accounts for only about 1% of all diagnosed skin cancer cases, but it causes the vast majority of skin cancer deaths. American Cancer Society It is estimated that doctors will diagnose about 100,640 new cancers – about 59,170 men and 41,470 women – in the United States this year, and about 8,290 people will die as a result.

The risk increases with age, and lighter skin tone is also a major risk factor for melanoma. Early detection can lead to effective treatment.

The average age of those who receive the diagnosis is 66 years. But skin cancer is among the most common diseases Cancer in young peopleEspecially young women between the ages of 20 and 39, according to the American Cancer Society.

Melanoma found on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet or under the nails “is a rare type,” William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society, said Wednesday. He suggested that people use sunscreen, check their skin frequently, and consult a dermatologist if anything suspicious is found.

“It's a good idea to have a partner look at your back and the soles of your feet in a well-lit room, or with a flashlight,” he said.

Mr Blevins said he would use his diagnosis to raise awareness about skin cancer.

“I'm grateful for the hope this was found early, but please consider this a PSA test for skin checks,” he said in his post.