Sam Champion revealed his skin cancer diagnosis — and large facial scar — on air Friday.
The weatherman explained to “Good Morning America” viewers that he had a mark on his right cheek removed, which turned out to be nodular basal cell carcinoma.
The removal took place earlier this month at New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, with the cancer being “larger and deeper” than predicted.
Champion, 63, noted that he also underwent laser treatment to remove dark, precancerous dots elsewhere on his face.
The ABC personality urged viewers to be “vigilant” while sharing his health scare.
“I hope that one day no one has to go through surgery to get rid of skin cancer, but, right now, we have to keep our eye on our skin, our hands on our skin … and notice any unusual spots,” he explained. “And if those spots start to change, immediately get care.”
Champion added that he no longer “think[s] about going outside without sunscreen.”
He clarified that this careful mindset hadn’t always “been the case,” recalling getting “blistering sunburns” in the past.
Now, however, Champion doesn’t “leave home without putting on sunscreen.”
He continued, “No matter how old you are — my first one was at 26 — no matter what your skin tone, your skin type, your skin color, they’re cutting skin cancer off of everybody. So, it’s everybody’s issue.”
Champion shared footage from his appointments, including a clip of him expressing “disappoint[ment]” over the “big, gaping hole” on his face.
“I’m not going to enjoy having a larger scar than I thought I was going to have, but that’s the way it’s going today,” he said.
Champion notably has been giving his Instagram followers glimpses of his skin cancer struggles throughout the year.
He often shares photos with a bandage on his face.
Champion has been married to Rubem Robierb since December 2012.
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