A Fox television news anchor received an unexpected medical diagnosis during a live broadcast this week when a dermatologist identified skin cancer on his arm during a health segment that was intended to educate viewers about early detection.
Mike Jerrick, co-host of “Good Day Philadelphia” on FOX 29, was conducting the segment when the startling discovery occurred in front of thousands of viewers watching the morning show.
The veteran broadcaster had invited Dr. Joanna Walker, a dermatologist with the Tara Miller Melanoma Center at the University of Pennsylvania, to appear on the program.
The segment was designed to raise awareness about skin cancer risks and encourage viewers to seek professional medical evaluation for suspicious spots or growths on their skin.
Walker examined a spot on Jerrick’s right elbow that had caught his attention and prompted him to request the examination during the live segment.
The doctor’s professional assessment revealed concerning findings that would change the course of the broadcast.
After careful examination, Walker determined that the spot exhibited characteristics of basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer that affects millions of Americans annually.
“It has all the features of the most common type of skin cancer, which is also very treatable when it’s caught early,” Walker explained to viewers during the broadcast.
Jerrick expressed immediate surprise at the diagnosis, asking the dermatologist about treatment options.
“What are you going to do to it, burn it off?” he inquired.
Walker responded that the cancerous lesion would likely require surgical removal.
The doctor explained that the spot will need to be “cut and stitched” rather than burned off.
The dermatologist provided reassuring information about the specific type of cancer diagnosed.
Walker described basal cell carcinoma as a “very slow-growing type of skin cancer” that typically does not spread to other areas of the body.
“But you do need to remove it so it doesn’t keep growing and take over,” Walker emphasized during the educational segment.
Jerrick revealed that he had not anticipated receiving a cancer diagnosis during the live television appearance and described his state of mind leading up to the examination when speaking with Fox News after the broadcast,
“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,” Jerrick explained to reporters following the unexpected turn of events.
The longtime Fox 29 host expressed genuine appreciation for Walker’s immediate identification of the problem during the live broadcast and credited her expertise with potentially saving him from more serious complications.
“When she blurted it out, I didn’t get alarmed or anything,” Jerrick stated about his reaction to the diagnosis.
“It was just like, ‘Oh dang, I should have done this a long time ago.’”
The anchor reflected on his delayed response to getting the spot checked professionally, acknowledging that he should have sought medical attention for the concerning area much earlier.
Jerrick admitted that the surgical treatment plan surprised him more than the cancer diagnosis itself, revealing his preconceived notions about skin cancer treatment methods.
“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,” he said.
The Philadelphia-based anchor has scheduled the removal procedure for this coming Friday at a medical facility where specialists will perform the outpatient surgery.
Jerrick expressed confidence about the upcoming surgery and his recovery prospects, maintaining an optimistic outlook despite the unexpected diagnosis.
“I should be fine,” he said with characteristic resilience.
“She’ll just suture me up and I’ll be on my way.”
