Tyler Blevins, the video game superstar 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. A mole was removed from his leg during his annual checkup with a dermatologist a few weeks ago.
“It has come back as a melanoma, but they are optimistic that they caught it at an early stage,” he says.
Blevins said in the post that a second black spot was found on his leg, which was also removed and is being examined. I hope you understand.” ”
His huge online following led to a crossover appearance in 2019 on Fox's competition show “The Masked Singer,” disguised as a character called “Ice Cream.” In 2018, he played Fortnite with Ellen DeGeneres on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
Skin cancer is common but often survivable. The most common types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, can be disfiguring but are rarely fatal.
Although melanoma accounts for only about 1% of all skin cancers diagnosed, it causes the majority of skin cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that doctors will diagnose about 100,640 new cases of melanoma in the United States this year (59,170 men and 41,470 women), resulting in about 8,290 deaths as a result.
The risk increases with age, and light skin color is also a major risk factor for melanoma. Early detection leads to effective treatment.
According to the American Cancer Society, the average age of people diagnosed is 66 years. However, melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults, especially young women, between the ages of 20 and 39.
William Dahut, the American Cancer Society's chief scientific officer, said Wednesday that melanoma found in the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and under the fingernails is a “rare type.” He suggested using sunscreen, checking your skin frequently and seeing a dermatologist if you notice anything suspicious.
“You can ask your partner to look at your back and the soles of your feet in a well-lit room or with a hand light,” he says.
Blevins said he will use his diagnosis to raise awareness about skin cancer.
“I'm grateful for the hope of early detection,” he said in the post, “but please take this as a PSA to get a skin test.”