A Fox television news anchor discovered that he had skin cancer during a shocking live TV segment this week.
Mike Jerrick, co-host of “Good Day Philadelphia” on FOX 29, was broadcasting a segment on skin cancer signs and prevention with Dr. Joanna Walker, a dermatologist with the Tara Miller Melanoma Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
As they were discussing the importance of regular checks for skin cancer, Walker inspected a spot on Jerrick’s right elbow. After close examination, the doctor determined that it was basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer.
“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 during the segment. Jerrick expressed surprise, asking, “What are you going to do to it, burn it off?”
The doctor replied by stating that the cancerous spot will likely need to be “cut and stitched.” Walker then provided some positive news, stating that basal spot is a “very slow-growing type of skin cancer” that is unlikely to spread to other parts of the body.
“But you do need to remove it so it doesn’t keep growing and take over,” the dermatologist added.
While speaking with Fox News, Jerrick stated that he was caught completely off-guard by the live TV discovery. “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 longtime Fox 29 host expressed gratitude that Walker was able to identify the problem right away. “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.’”
“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 this coming Friday. “I should be fine,” he said. “She’ll just suture me up and I’ll be on my way.”
The Philadelphia-based anchor thanked viewers and supporters for all the well wishes and prayers he has received since the cancer was identified. He also urged anyone with similar, or unfamiliar lumps or growths on their skin to make sure they get checked.
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.
