Janet Street-Porter urges people to check blemishes after undergoing skin cancer operation

‘It’s nothing to be scared about, just get it done,’ Loose Women panellist says

Janet Street-Porter has encouraged members of the public to be vigilant when checking their skin for blemishes and moles after undergoing a skin cancer operation.

On Tuesday 30 June, Street-Porter provided an update on her surgery during an appearance on ITV’s Loose Women.

The talk show panellist previously revealed that last week she had a skin cancer growth removed from her nose, having had to wait four months for the procedure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In the latest update on her condition, Street-Porter spoke about the visible scar on her nose, explaining that she was referred to a surgeon by a dermatologist after noticing a dot on her nose, which she initially thought was an insect bite.

The 73-year-old was informed that the dot was actually a basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.

Street-Porter went for the operation last Wednesday, which involved having her nose anaesthetised before having the top part of her skin removed for analysis.

Following the procedure, the broadcaster had stitches sewn into her nose, which she will soon have removed.

On Monday 29 June, Street-Porter made an appearance on This Morning, during which she spoke to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield while her nose was bandaged up.

A day later, she appeared on Loose Women with her bandage removed, stating that her surgeon feels “very confident” that the scar on her nose will no longer be visible in a few months.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a scar, and I’ve still got a nose and a face and everything else and I’m feeling very positive about it,” she said.

Janet Street-Porter on ‘This Morning’ on 29 June 2020 (ITV/Shutterstock)

Street-Porter continued by urging Loose Women viewers to make note of any changes on their skin.

“I want to say to everybody watching, do look at all the little blemishes on your skin and especially moles if they change size or shape or anything,” she stated.

“I always did, I was always really careful, I always put factor 50 on my face. It can happy to so many people.”

Street-Porter added that since speaking about her procedure on Loose Women last week, she has received messages from “hundreds and hundreds” of people who had the same operation or are going to have it in the near future.

“So I just want to tell everybody that it’s nothing to be scared about, just get it done,” she stated.

According to Cancer Research UK, there are approximately 16,200 new cases of melanoma skin cancer in the UK every year.

Furthermore, more than 85 per cent of cases are preventable, the charity outlines.