Chris Evans reveals why he went public with his skin cancer diagnosis, telling fans: ‘Get checked’

CHRIS Evans has urged fans to get checked for skin cancer after announcing his own diagnosis.

The Virgin Radio presenter and TV presenter has told how he gets regular check-ups from doctors but still missed a malignant growth on his leg.

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Eight years ago he was given the all-clear after a fear of prostate cancer.

But fears of cancer still haunt the star after losing his father, two uncles dying to colon cancer and his late mother battling breast cancer.

He adds: “For years I was such a scaredy-cat – but things have been taken from me before that led to the death of my father, his two brothers and my mother – cancer is tired of us.”

“I changed my mind a while ago – when I went to the toilet and it was clear something was very wrong.

“And up until that moment, I was terrified of a possible test that you could have done.

“For some reason this happened and it was so obvious.

“I finished work and immediately called my GP and it was like a revelation for me.

“It was like a revelation. I thought, ‘Yes – I’ll have a check-up!’

“I get screened too often now for a few things my doctor says.

“So I went on vacation not knowing the answer. I thought it was probably all clear, but I went for the biopsy anyway.”

“The fear I felt leading up to the email telling me about the biopsy was far worse than the fear of telling me the results.

“Much, much worse.

“That’s when I realized I didn’t like not knowing.

“It’s funny because you do the really invasive exams and the initially embarrassing ones with the bowel movements and whatnot — then you get this seamlessly harmless freckle on the back of your calf and you think it’s probably nothing — but it can be.”

“Caught in situ at this stage, you know, only a fool would ever wish for cancer, but if you must have a cancer, this is the one you want because it’s stage zero.”

“But it is changing and will move.

“An example of why it’s so extraordinary to look for is that there is a high percentage of men who tragically lose their lives to melanoma that they don’t see because it’s lying on their backs.”

“And they are single men. You don’t have your back that often.”

“And if it’s in your back in the middle of your shoulder blades, unless you have a partner or play on a sports team, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see it.”

“Unless you check it on purpose. Get your partner to check you out and it might be more fun.”