Grange Hill's Zammo star shares health update as he opens up on cancer scare
Actor Lee MacDonald has spoken candidly about his recent cancer scare, delivering a crucial message to viewers.
With soaring temperatures expected, health experts have emphasised the vital importance of sun protection - something Lee passionately advocates following his personal ordeal.
During Monday's instalment of Good Morning Britain, the Grange Hill favourite discussed his skin cancer worry with hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley.
Richard pointed out that Lee has faced two separate scares, with the 57-year-old revealing his initial concern occurred a year ago.
He explained: "It was found to be non-cancerous. Then, O2 are now doing a campaign for skin cancer awareness.
"On the back of that, I booked an appointment just for the doctors, I've got a little rash. It turns out it's a keratosis, which is a pre-cancerous spot. I'm going to have it burnt out."
The ITV presenter enquired: "So, that means it could turn cancerous?" Lee acknowledged this was indeed a possibility, reports the Manchester Evening News.
He continued: "It was just on the back of going and getting checked out, I think we really need to concentrate on putting skincare on and looking at blemishes on your face and going to get them checked out."
Susanna then stressed the significance of applying sun cream before asking Lee to discuss his father's skin cancer diagnosis.
The actor revealed: "My dad was a driver, for years he would sit with his arm out of the window. My mum would go on about his arm, saying it's getting burned all the time.
"Later in life, he had skin cancer cut out from that arm."
Richard pointed out that this cancer is incredibly common for American lorry drivers, who often dangle their arm outside the window whilst on lengthy journeys.
Nevertheless, Lee revealed that his skin cancer risk stemmed not from sun exposure, but from his sunbed usage decades earlier.
He explained: "Before I went to nightclubs years ago, I would lay on the sunbeds for an hour a week. I'd do a Tuesday and Thursday from about 17 until I was around 26 (years old).
"That's what the doctor said it is; it's probably the sunbeds rather than the sun; I don't go out in the sun much because of- being aware of the risks."
As the chat drew to a close, Lee shared with the two ITV presenters that he always applies sunscreen during fishing trips with his son, regardless of cloud cover.
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