Television personality Adrian Chiles has disclosed that he has been recently diagnosed with skin cancer, sharing crucial symptoms to be aware of. In his column for The Guardian, Chiles recounted how a peculiar spot on his shoulder was identified as squamous cell carcinoma.

This type of cancer is a common form of non-melanoma skin cancer. Non-melanoma cancers are generally less aggressive than melanoma, as they typically do not metastasize to other body areas.

Nonetheless, timely treatment is essential, as these cancers can become life-threatening if not addressed.

Chiles elaborated that he underwent a procedure to have the cancerous growth removed and assured readers that it “won’t spread.”

The 58-year-old remarked, “So not nothing, but not serious. Needs keeping an eye on.”

Symptoms

As with any health condition, early detection of skin cancer significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. The NHS has provided a list of key symptoms to watch for on its website to aid in early identification.

It noted that the “main” symptom of non-melanoma skin cancer is a growth or unusual patch on the skin. Any part of your skin can be affected, but it’s most common in areas exposed to the sun, such as the:

• Head, face and ears
• Neck and shoulders
• Back
• Hands
• Lower legs

“The growths or patches can vary in colour, size and texture,” it said. This means:

• Some cancerous growths are raised and smooth with clear edges
• Some growths may be bumpier, rough or crusty
• Sometimes skin cancer may start as a flat discoloured patch
• Cancerous patches can be a range of colours, including purple, brown and red
• The patches may be darker on brown or black skin
• Sometimes the patches may look crusty and feel rough or itchy

The health body said you should see a GP if:

• You have a growth on your skin that’s getting bigger or has changed colour or texture
• You have a growth or area of skin that hurts, itches, bleeds, crusts or scabs for more than four weeks

The NHS added: “Finding non-melanoma skin cancer early can mean it’s easier to treat.”

Melanoma skin cancer

A less common but more dangerous type of skin cancer is melanoma. This can spread to other areas of the body.

The main symptom of melanoma skin cancer is a new mole or a change in an existing mole. The NHS advises being wary of:

• Moles with an uneven shape or edges
• Moles with a mix of colours
• Large moles – often more than 6mm wide
• Moles that changes over time
• Moles that are swollen and sore, bleeding, itchy, or crusty

Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Daily Express

The NHS says you must see a GP if:

• You have a mole that’s changed size, shape or colour
• You have a mole that’s painful or itchy
• You have a mole that’s inflamed, bleeding or crusty
• You have a new or unusual mark on your skin that has not gone away after a few weeks
• You have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury

For more information, visit the NHS website here.