Gordon Ramsay has shared a health alert following his recent surgery to remove skin cancer.
In America, statistics show that one out of five individuals will face skin cancer by the time they are 70 years old, with approximately 9,500 new cases reported every day.
Melanoma remains the most lethal type of skin cancer, though other variations of the disease warrant attention as well.
The renowned chef took to Instagram on Saturday to disclose that he had undergone a procedure to excise a basal cell carcinoma, a specific kind of skin cancer.
Ramsay, hailing from the UK, posted an image of his face covered in a bandage on social media, situated on his jawline beneath the ear.
A subsequent image displayed the area beneath the bandage, showing multiple stitches following the surgery.
He expressed his gratitude by writing: “Grateful and so appreciative for the incredible team at The Skin Associates and their fast reactive work on removing this Basal Cell Carcinoma thank you!”
He also emphasized the importance of skin protection: “Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend. I promise you it’s not a face lift! I’d need a refund.”
Cancer Research UK commented on Ramsay’s post, stating: “Glad to hear you’re doing well, Gordon, and thanks for raising awareness of how important it is to stay safe in the sun.”
They offered advice on sun safety: “Seek shade, cover up, and apply sunscreen regularly and generously.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, basal cell carcinoma generally “appears as a slightly transparent bump on the skin” and is most often found on sun-exposed areas such as the neck and head.
This type of cancer usually manifests as a change in the skin, resembling a growth or a sore that does not heal.
In the previous year, Ramsay experienced a severe cycling accident in Connecticut, resulting in multiple bruises.
Reflecting on the incident, he shared: “You know how much I love cycling and triathlons and Ironman (races) etc and this week, unfortunately, I had a really bad accident and it really shook me and honestly I’m lucky to be here.”
He praised the medical staff who treated him: “Those incredible trauma surgeons, doctors, nurses in the hospitals looked after me this week, they were amazing but honestly, you’ve got to wear helmets.”
Stressing the importance of safety gear, Ramsay remarked: “I don’t care how short the journey is. I don’t care… these helmets cost money, but they’re crucial, even with a kid’s short journey, they’ve got to wear a helmet now.”
Concluding, he added: “I’m lucky to be standing here. I’m in pain. It’s been a brutal week. And I’m sort of getting through it.”