A TV host was left stunned when he was told he had skin cancer by a dermatologist live on-air.
Mike Jerrick, co-host of Good Day Philadelphia on Fox News, received the devastating news he had skin cancer when a dermatologist came on the show and spotted a concerning cancerous-looking spot on his elbow - and 'blurted it out' unexpectedly.
Eagle-eyed doctor Joanna Walker, who works at the Tara Miller Melanoma Center at the University of Pennsylvania, told Jerrick that the spot has 'all the features of the most common type of skin cancer.'
Skin cancer stands as the most common cancer in the United States with one in five likely to develop the condition by the age of 70.
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Around two people die of the cancer in the US every hour, however, the Skin Cancer Foundation states the survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent when detected early.
"So this is a basal cell skin cancer," Dr Walker said while looking closely at his arm, to which a shocked Jerrick asked: "It is?"
However, fortunately it appears he has a 'slow growing' type that is 'very treatable.'
She told Jerrick he could have the spot removed to which the bewildered host replied: "What are you gonna do? Burn it off?"
"This one probably needs to be cut and stitched," she said.
"What!" Jerrick said stunned. "And then stitch me up?"
Explaining further, Dr Walker said: "So this one is a very slow growing type of skin cancer, it's not gonna spread to anywhere else on your body.
"But it needs to be removed so it doesn't keep growing and taking over normal skin."
"Oh, good lord," Jerrick responded before revealing to Fox News viewers that the diagnosis, especially live on air, was a complete shock.
"I did say that we should have had her bring her [micro]scope because I wanted to check out of couple of things on my arms, so that part was planned," he said. "But I never really thought it was going to be skin cancer."
Co-host Alex Holley then asked the doc what Jerrick should do next and if he should book for an appointment to which Dr Walker said he should.
"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 should be fine,. She'll just suture me up and I'll be on my way."
The outlet has since confirmed Jerrick has an appointment to have the spot removed on Friday.
According to the Mayo Clinic, basal cell carcinoma can appear as a skin-colored or pink bump on white skin, or brown or glossy black on brown and black skin, and occurs in places that are most exposed to the sun like the head and neck.
Avoiding the sun, tanning beds and using sunscreen can help to prevent this type of skin cancer.
Liv Bridge